Study Reveals Issues with Avocado Oil Authenticity

A recent investigation from the University of California, Davis uncovered that several processed foods branded with pure avocado oil as an ingredient did not pass authenticity tests. This includes items like chips, mayonnaise, and salad dressings.

The research involved testing products sold in California stores and online from 2025 to 2026, checking the avocado oil for genuine quality. The findings were quite striking: 93% of potato chips, 71% of mayonnaise, and all salad dressings contained other oils. In comparison, only 5% of processed foods labeled as olive oil failed their purity tests.

According to the researchers, “By extracting lipids from these products and comparing their fatty acid and sterol profiles against established reference ranges, we noticed significant inconsistencies between what the labels claimed and what was actually present, especially in items labeled as avocado oil.” However, they did note some limitations in the study, particularly regarding its geographic scope and sample size.

Wang, the study’s lead author, mentioned that the problem might stem from third-party suppliers deep within the supply chain. “When companies depend on certificates of analysis from oil providers instead of verifying each batch independently, they run the risk of including oils that aren’t truly authentic,” she explained. She further pointed out, “The oils blended into ‘avocado oil’ are often far less expensive than genuine avocado oil.”

The study indicates that consumers might be paying extra for products marketed as healthier alternatives to cheaper seed oils. With avocado oil’s rise in popularity, thanks to its high smoke point and beneficial monounsaturated fats compared to seed oils, this situation is concerning.

Though the specific oils used in these blends weren’t determined in this particular study, previous research suggested that high oleic seed oils are common contaminants. Oils like high oleic sunflower or safflower oil have similar fatty acid profiles, prompting researchers to include additional analyses to reinforce their findings.

Products tested included offerings from brands such as Chosen Foods and Primal Kitchen, both known for their strong marketing claims regarding the purity of their avocado oil. According to the study, every product from Chosen Foods, whose packaging states “100% Pure Avocado Oil,” failed the authenticity tests.

Primal Kitchen’s president responded, stating the brand maintains high quality standards. “We require a certificate of analysis for each batch and conduct ongoing tests to ensure the purity and quality of our avocado oil,” he said. “We use 100% pure avocado oil in our products and do not mix it with other oils.”

Chosen Foods is primarily owned by a private equity firm named Butterfly Equity, while Primal Kitchen was acquired by Kraft Heinz in 2019.

The introduction of counterfeit food products into interstate commerce is prohibited under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. A product’s labeling is considered misleading if it doesn’t align with certain established criteria. The FDA can impose various penalties for such violations. However, Wang mentioned that, at this time, there aren’t any FDA standards regarding avocado oil, making enforcement challenging.

The FDA has not yet made any public statements regarding enforcement actions related to this study and declined to comment further.

“Consumers place trust in the quality and ingredients of Primal Kitchen products, and we take this very seriously,” the company president added. Meanwhile, Kraft Heinz has yet to respond to inquiries about whether they contest the study’s findings, or if they plan to adjust their testing protocols.