Olive oil — designed specially for kids. That's the idea behind PequeOliva.
When I was at the Fancy Food Show in New York last spring, I met a representative from the Spanish company producing PequeOliva, an olive oil formulated specially for children.
So of course I asked him why — why make a special olive oil ostensibly designed just for children?
Here's what he told me.
He said that in Spain doctors often recommend that mothers put olive oil into the food they feed their babies and toddlers. Apparently it helps give them good fats and helps keep them regular. But some olive oils have those green, peppery notes that children can't appreciate yet. So PequeOliva formulated an extremely smooth, buttery oil with low acidity and a taste that is attractive to children.
I tasted it at the show, and it was indeed a very smooth, buttery oil. Quite delicious!
I have to admit that I think the idea of an oil just for kids seems a little excessive, but I also really appreciate the idea of offering the nutritional value (and taste) of good olive oil to children early in their lives.
And hey, as long as we're marketing food products to children, let it be olive oil and not junk food confectionery.
• Find it: PequeOliva will be available in the United States this autumn from M5 International Fine Foods.
Would you ever buy an olive oil designed specifically for baby or toddler palates?
Related: All About Olive Oil: Recipes and Favorite Tips
(Images: PequeOliva; Faith Durand)
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I don't think I'd buy it for the reasons cited above but the tin/packaging sure is cute.
Ridiculous.
I don't have kids, but I'm currently dealing with an ulcer. "Low acidity" sounds good to me.
Its weird. I'm from Spain, and I've never heard anything about putting olive oil in food given to babies and toddlers... not once.
Olive oil is a staple in the kitchen here, thats for sure... but that's totally new. x)
Very cute packaging but what's next? Designer bananas?
I live in Spain too, and I've never heard of this.
When we had to severely restrict my daughter's diet due to food allergies for a while (it became less restrictive as we figured out what her exact allergies were), our pediatrician had us add olive oil to her food to up the good fat content that she lost by not being able to eat things like nuts, fish and dairy. Toddlers need fat for brain development. So, I get that. But, we always just used regular old olive oil with no problem.
Several of my baby food cookbooks recommend putting olive oil in purees of carrots and other vegetables which require fat to digest their vitamins.
designer bananas... bwah hahahahahaha
LOL!
@woogapdx Don't have an ulcer yet but have been suffering from stomach acid and a low acid olive oil would be nice too. I'd buy it.
thank god they don't make kids drink fish oil anymore! ick!
This is silly! You can buy olive oil with a mild taste in spain anyway. In Germany it has to be rapeseed oil in baby food, but not cold-pressed because that may contain something harmful, I forgot what it was. Just thinking about the amount of advice you get for proper baby food makes me tired.
@Joan in SB- they make flavoured cod liver oil. My kids started on strawberry flavoured and it tastes great. Omega 3's help brain development and they have never had a cold or the flu.
Cute! I dont care if it seems excessive; spoil your children with good food and they will forever have an appreciation for food and good health that they may not otherwise have had.
My daughter loves the taste of regular extra virgin olive oil - she dips her bread in it. I don't think I've ever had an olive oil that was too peppery. If it's the same price as regular olive oil I'd buy it if it tastes good, but it seems like an excuse to mark up the price.
I've seen this product in the supermarkets here in Barcelona and never understood what it was. Glad that I do now.