Restrictions on bringing bottled olive oil home in checked luggage?

First of all, just to be clear, the liquids rule is not an airline rule but rather a security one. Second, if it is in checked luggage, there is no problem. Just make sure you pack it well enough so limit the change of breakage.

I brought back a bottle from Rome into Boston, they didn't care at customs. They only care about products like meat and cheese, or plant/animal products and the like. I even brought back some actual olives and customs didn't care. As far as I'm aware there aren't any restrictions about olive oil - at least, I haven't heard any! and it's not like alcohol where there are tax issues and whatnot. Have fun, the olive oil is worth the hassle.... :)

You won't have a problem at all. Obviously you will want to wrap it well. I bought back some framed photos from the US on my last visit and wrapped them in bubble wrap and them put them in the centre of my case with all my clothes around and they arrived unscathed. If you want to take the oil in your handluggage it will be subject to the 3oz restrictions.

Thanks for the replies. My concerns are not so much with how to pack the bottles or if customs would have a problem with them. My main concern is with the security screening policies. I sent a message to TSA about the issue, but I have not heard back from them yet. And I don't know about the Italian and German equivalents of TSA.

As David notes, regulations restricting the amount of liquids you can carry only applies to your carry-on stuff. Other than a ban on obviously-dangerous materials, you can carry just about anything you want in your checked luggage.

Just don't take it in your carry on. Some people on our plane had it in their carryon on Monday and it was taken from them.
They were looking forward to cooking with it when they got home.

No problems at all on checked luggage. I just brought home (on Monday) some olive oil, some liquor, lemon oil, olives and other stuff all in my checked luggage with no problems. Just wrap them up in socks and stuff and make sure they are placed in the center of your suitcase.

Scott,
I purchased olive oil at the airport in Rome, after I had gone through security. We flew Luthansa to Germany and then United home. I had no problem in Germany with in in my carry on and since we landed in San Francisco our final point of destination it was fine.

Just returned home from Germany and Austria, where I bought pumpkin seed oil. Put it in a large baggie, rolled it in clothes, packed it in checked bag and it arrived home perfectly fine. No problem. Have done the same with wine.

Thanks to all for the replies.