Consumers can follow prevalent health advice thanks to Mediterranean-style Creta Farms Gourmet EVOO Deli Meats™ - the nation's only deli meats made with heart-healthy extra virgin olive oil.

Lansdale, PA. (May 2008) - With the unveiling of new studies debunking the 1990's "low-fat" mantra, recent research from Harvard University corroborates the fact that it's not solely the total amount of fat people eat that affects weight control and risk of some diseases, but it is the kind of fat they consume that matters.

"What is becoming clearer is that bad fats, meaning saturated and trans fats, increase the risk for certain diseases, while good fats, like monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, lower the risk," reports Harvard's School of Public Health. "The key is to substitute good fats for bad fats."

One food company has mastered that formula with tasty results - introducing CRETA FARMS Gourmet EVOO Deli Meats - the nation's only deli meats made with heart-healthy extra virgin olive oil. Popular for years throughout Europe, the EVOO deli meats are being introduced to the Philadelphia region, primarily through Acme Markets and local independent retailers, through a partnership between local business, Clemens Family Corporation and Creta Farm, Greece.

"My husband's diabetic, so I've been cooking with extra virgin olive oil for almost 25 years," says one woman who participated in recent taste tests of the first deli meat to bring incredible flavor and health benefits together in one bite. "It's good for him and for our whole family, but taste is important, too. I like this and can't taste the olive oil in the meat at all. It's delicious."

Using a unique process that's been patented in 90 countries, much of the saturated fat is removed and replaced with EVOO. Beginning with hand-trimmed, premium lean meats, EVOO is carefully added in the preparation stage to allow absorption and distribution of the olive oil. To ensure that the premium lean meats are complemented with high quality EVOO, CRETA FARMS™ uses EVOO produced from the finest, high-altitude, hand-picked olives that are cold pressed within 24 hours of harvest to ensure consistency and freshness. This meticulous detail to product quality contributes to the taste, texture, and better-for-you properties attached to CRETA FARMS Gourmet EVOO Deli Meats.

"We are excited because we know the product is really going to connect with people," says Wayne Marchant, president of CRETA FARMS U.S. "We're combining the healthy flavors of the Mediterranean with the tasty traditions of the American deli."

It's a welcome addition for the many people who yearn to incorporate healthy items into their diet without giving up tastes and flavors. With the Mediterranean lifestyle becoming more common in the States, the new deli meats are capitalizing on food trends that are expected to persist.