For years, headlines and commentary around “fake olive oil” have created confusion for consumers. Many people have been unsure whether to trust what they find on grocery shelves, especially when it comes to extra virgin olive oil. That’s why the recent Forbes article, Clarity On Olive Oil—What’s Real, What’s Not, is an important moment for the industry — and for anyone who cooks with or values olive oil.
The article highlights the findings of the largest authenticity testing program ever conducted in the U.S. and Canada. Led by Dr. Tassos C. Kyriakides, Ph.D. of the Yale University School of Public Health, and carried out through the North American Olive Oil Association (NAOOA), the study analyzed 190 olive oil products sold across major supermarket chains.
The key takeaway:
No adulteration was found among the top national olive oil brands tested.
This directly challenges the lingering myth that “most olive oil is fake.” The misconception originally grew from mixing two different issues:
- Adulteration, meaning mixing olive oil with cheaper oils
- Quality grading, meaning whether an oil meets the extra virgin standard once tested
The study confirms that authenticity is strong in the market, even when quality levels may vary from bottle to bottle due to harvest, storage, or age.
As Dr. Kyriakides states:
“The results suggest authenticity is the norm, not the exception. The conversation must shift from mistrust to education.”
The research also evaluated polyphenol content and oleic acid levels, both of which are linked to olive oil’s health benefits — from cardiovascular support to brain health and anti-inflammatory effects.
Why This Matters
For consumers who choose olive oil for wellness, flavor, and everyday cooking, this is reassuring news. Extra virgin olive oil remains one of the core ingredients of the Mediterranean diet and is consistently associated with reduced risk of heart disease, improved cognitive health, and healthy aging.
It also means the narrative around olive oil is changing. Instead of suspicion, the focus is returning to freshness, origin, milling practices, and how to select and store olive oil well.
We Recommend Reading the Full Article
It provides valuable clarity and context — especially if you’ve heard conflicting claims about “fake olive oil.” Read the Forbes article here
