Study Finds 89% of Products Labeled 'Avocado Oil' Contain Cheaper Alternatives

A significant majority of food products marketed as being made with avocado oil are adulterated with less expensive alternatives, according to a new study from the University of California, Davis. The research found that 89% of tested products that claimed to be made with avocado oil were bulked out with cheaper oils, meaning consumers may not be receiving the product they paid for.

Avocado oil has gained considerable popularity due to its perceived health benefits, leading consumers to pay a premium for products that include it. "Consumers are increasingly paying a premium for products made with avocado oil or olive oil," said lead author Selina Wang, Professor of Cooperative Extension in the UC Davis Department of Food Science and Technology. "They deserve to get what they pay for and food manufacturers deserve confidence that the ingredients they purchase from suppliers are authentic."

The study examined 54 products labeled as containing avocado oil, including crisps, mayonnaises, and salad dressings. The analysis revealed that 93% of the crisps, 71% of the mayonnaises, and 100% of the salad dressings falsely claimed to be made with authentic avocado oil. In contrast, purity tests on 20 olive oil-labeled products showed only one failure, indicating a more isolated issue with avocado oil products.

Researchers suggested that the issue may not lie with the brands themselves but rather with the oil suppliers. Many food companies procure oils from third-party brokers and may be unaware that the oils they are purchasing are adulterated. "If consumers are buying potato chips that say they're made with 100% avocado oil, that should be the product that they're getting," Professor Wang stated. "I don't think there is enough accountability throughout the supply chain. Suppliers of adulterated oil may be hiding behind a couple of layers of supply chain, making it difficult to identify where the problem originated."