Bertolli Settles $7 Million Class-Action Suit Over Not-So-Virgin Olive Oil

Sometimes you know you’re not getting a truly international experience.

I’m talking the Chinese food place down the street that also serves pizza. The American version of any acclaimed British TV show. Epcot.

But olive oil? That’s a bit more surprising.

Bertolli agreed to pay $7 million to settle a class-action suit filed over its olive oil labeling and bottling practices.

The lawsuit made two arguments against Bertolli:

First, it said the company labeled olive oil as “imported from Italy” when most of the oil was from other countries.

In addition, it accused Bertolli of labeling some bottles “extra virgin” without following distribution practices to guarantee the oil would still meet standards by the time you used it.

Bertolli denies any fault, but has since changed its labeling and bottling practices.

How to Submit a Claim for the Bertolli Settlement

To file a claim, you must have purchased Bertolli Extra Virgin Olive Oil between May 23, 2010, and April 16, 2018; or you must have purchased Bertolli Classico Olive Oil or Bertolli Extra Light Olive Oil between May 23, 2010, and Dec. 30, 2015.

If you have receipts for these purchases, you can claim as many bottles as you have documentation for. If you don’t have receipts, you can claim up to five bottles of oil.

You can request to receive your settlement by mailed check, PayPal or direct deposit. The amount you’ll receive depends on how many people file claims, but the lowest you’ll get per claimed product is 75 cents, and the maximum you’ll get per bottle is $8.75.

If you don’t have proof of purchase and claim five products, you’ll receive a maximum of $25.

The settlement is pending until final approval, set to take place at an Aug. 9 hearing. The deadline to submit a claim is 30 days after final approval.

Lisa Rowan is a senior writer at The Penny Hoarder.