A state judge has dismissed a North American Olive Oil Association lawsuit filed against Mehmet Oz after finding the group failed to prove the popular television talk-show host had disparaged olive oil, the industry publication Olive Oil Times reported.

NAOOA sued The Dr. Oz Show last year in Georgia state court for defaming the "quality and integrity" of olive oil sold in U.S. supermarkets. Oz had aired a segment on his program earlier that year in which a guest alleged that 80 percent of extra virgin olive oil sold in the U.S. is not real.

The association sued in Georgia reportedly because the state's food libel laws are generally weaker than libel laws found in most other states. However, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Alford Dempsey was not convinced the show had belittled olive oil or falsely labeled it as a "health hazard," as the lawsuit implied.

"Dr. Oz goes so far as to encourage his audience members to sample some of the olive oils being taste-tested on the show, which the Court must presume he would not do if the gist of the show was that the olive oils on American shelves were a health hazard," Dempsey said.

A producer with the show told Olive Oil Times she was pleased with the dismissal. A NAOOA spokeswoman said the association is considering its options for appeal. http://bit.ly/2mX7xAl

MORE CEO DATELINE

• Associations welcome fiduciary rule delay
• Grocery association ordered to pay $1.1M in legal fees
• Association blasted for alleged ‘backroom deal' about ethanol regulation
• Trump's first speech to Congress wins praise from associations
• Retail group launches media campaign against border tax