Composition and quality of pressed virgin olive oils extracted with a new enzyme processing aid

Virgin olive oils extracted with an enzyme complex were characterized with respect to the control oils by: (1) higher contents of major individual phe nols (free + aglycons), o-diphenols, total phenols, tocopherols, pleasant v olatiles (including those from lipoxygenase pathway), green (chlorophylls a nd pheophytins) and yellow (carotenoids) lipochromes, higher aliphatic and triterpene alcohols, phytol, citrostadienol, triterpene dialcohols; and ste roids; (2) lower contents of unpleasant volatiles and waxes; (3) higher val ues of chroma, integral color index, and 1,2-diglycerides/ 1,3-diglycerides ratio; (4) higher sensory, bitter, spicy, and green fruit scorings; and (5 ) lower values of lightness and turbidity. The organophosphorus pesticide r esidues were usually not detected in the oils produced with or without enzy me.