Why California Balsamic?
O OLIVE OIL has long depended on the rich land around us to sustain our dream of providing healthful, delicious food. Working by side by side in the fields we have come to know the folks who tend the small family farms where our products get their start–a reflection of our commitment to knowing where our food comes from. From the heart of Sonoma we are the link between the land and the loyal food lovers who have placed their trust in us.
In recent months consumers increasingly have expressed their concern about lead potentially found in European vinegars, particularly balsamic vinegar. Food and eco-blogs have served to spread this concern. In California all retailers selling European balsamic vinegars are now required to post notice that these vinegars contain lead. This is to comply with The California Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 or Proposition 65, which requires that businesses warn consumers of unsafe exposure to chemicals on a state list of carcinogens and reproductive toxicants. Lead, among them, is one of the oldest known toxic metals. It can damage the central nervous system, particularly in children, and the male and female reproduction systems. In 2004 the Environmental Law Foundation of Oakland, California filed suit claiming that certain stores and manufacturers were selling products in violation of the above Act. Specifically, it claimed that lead can contaminate wine vinegar in the manufacturing process, and that the highest concentrations are found in Modena-style balsamic vinegar. Food lovers sounded the alarm and the calls started coming in to us first as a trickle from California foodies and then a steady stream from across the country. We had to do something.
In response, O has returned to our California roots and developed three new balsamic vinegars:
> O California Balsamic: dark, rich, and dense (Sonoma)
> O California White Balsamic: a sparkling dance of sweet Muscat and Malvasia (Napa)
> O Port Balsamic: Sweet Port meets our own rich California balsamic (Napa/Sonoma)
These vinegars are made in California in the traditional balsamic manner, oak-aged over time and under rigorous supervision. We hand craft them one batch at a time in order to certify their quality and healthful goodness. And most importantly, each of these vinegars has tested out at levels more than 30 times lower than even the rigorous safe levels established by California’s Proposition 65. The response from our consumers has been heart-warming. Parents concerned with the health of their young children thank us for providing a healthy alternative to what has been in the market. Food lovers remark that these vinegars surpass the taste and quality of the vinegars they were used to. We are proud to provide a clear and healthful link between the land and their families.