It’s one of the healthiest cooking oils on the market.
But it turns out the avocado oil in your favourite snacks might be fake.
Scientists from the University of California, Davis, tested a range of products that claim to be ‘made with avocado oil’.
This includes crisps, mayonnaises, and salad dressings.
Worryingly, their results showed that 89 per cent of the products were bulked out with cheap alternatives.
So, while you might be paying a premium price for an ‘avocado oil’ product, you might actually be eating a cheaper oil.
‘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.’
It’s one of the healthiest cooking oils on the market. But it turns out the avocado oil in your favourite snacks might be fake
Avocado oil has surged in popularity in recent years, largely driven by health-conscious shoppers.
However, until now, the authenticity of products claiming to contain this oil has remained unclear.
In their new study, the researchers purchased 54 avocado oil-labelled products, and tested the oils within them.
Overall, 93 per cent of the crisps, 71 per cent of the mayonnaises, and 100 per cent of the salad dressings labelled as being made with authentic avocado oil contained other oils.
In contrast, purity tests on 20 olive oil-labelled products showed that only one failed.
As for who is to blame for this mix-up, the researchers say that it’s probably not the brands behind the products.
Many food companies source their oils from third-party brokers, and may not know that the oil they’re using is contaminated, they explained.
‘If consumers are buying potato chips that say they’re made with 100 per cent avocado oil, that should be the product that they’re getting,’ Professor Wang said.
In their study, the researchers purchased 54 avocado oil-labelled products, and tested the oils within them. Overall, 93 per cent of the crisps, 71 per cent of the mayonnaises, and 100 per cent of the salad dressings labelled as authentic avocado oil contained other oils
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‘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.’
The study comes shortly after experts revealed that you’ve probably been storing your olive oil in the wrong place.
While many people like to keep their olive oil next to the hob for easy access, experts from Which? have warned that this could actually make the liquid go rancid more quickly.
Instead, they advise storing it in a cool, dark place.
‘Keeping your olive oil in a cupboard away from light, heat and oxygen will help to prolong its life and prevent it going off too quickly,’ Which? explained.
Unlike wine, olive oil does not get better with age – so you shouldn’t let it hang around for years.
‘Once the bottle is opened it’s exposed to oxygen, which causes the oil to deteriorate,’ the experts added.
‘For maximum taste and health benefits, use within a couple of months.’
