EU Drops Restrictions on Olive Oil in Restaurants

Amidst massive ridicule

Last week, the European Commission, the EU's executive branch, said that restaurants should only be allowed to serve oil to customers in non-refillable bottles with proper content labeling. The refillable bottles are a staple on restaurant tables across Europe for diners who want to douse bread or salads.

The EU said its ruling would prevent restaurants from serving low quality oil and improve hygiene. But it also prompted ridicule by EU critics, who said it showed the authorities in Brussels are out of touch with the real world.

On Thursday, the Commission said it was withdrawing the proposal because not enough member nations had supported it.