The Short Answer
Avocado oil is notoriously expensive to produce, making it a prime target for economically motivated adulteration. To boost profit margins, suppliers secretly cut pure avocado oil with cheap, highly refined seed oils.
Because the FDA has no legally enforceable standard of identity for avocado oil, regulatory agencies aren't actively policing these purity claims. As a result, you are likely paying premium prices for disguised soybean or sunflower oil.
Why This Matters
Avocado oil is prized for its high smoke point and heart-healthy monounsaturated fats. When you buy fake oil, you are paying top dollar for the exact inflammatory seed oils you were trying to avoid. Why Avoid Seed Oils
The fraud is shockingly widespread. A landmark 2020 UC Davis study found that 82% of commercial avocado oils were either rancid or adulterated. In three egregious cases, bottles labeled "100% pure" contained absolutely zero avocado oil.
This problem hasn't been fixed. A 2023 follow-up study focused on private-label (store-brand) oils and found that nearly 70% of them failed purity tests.
A 2024 Washington Post investigation exposed the retailers involved. The investigation named massive chains—including Walmart, Target, and Trader Joe's—as sellers of adulterated avocado oil. Is Trader Joes Olive Oil Real
What's Actually In Fake Avocado Oil
When suppliers cut corners, they use neutral-tasting filler oils that blend seamlessly with whatever little avocado oil is actually in the bottle.
- Soybean Oil — The most common cheap filler. In some tested brands, the bottle was 100% soybean oil despite the avocado label. Is Vegetable Oil Bad
- High-Oleic Sunflower Oil — Used because its fatty acid profile mimics avocado oil, making it much harder for simple lab tests to detect the fraud. Is Sunflower Oil Inflammatory
- Canola Oil — Frequently found in store-brand avocado oils at major retailers due to its rock-bottom production price. Is Canola Oil Bad
- Rancid Avocado Oil — Even if it's pure, poorly processed oil oxidizes before it hits the shelf, destroying its health benefits and ruining its flavor. Tell If Oil Rancid
What to Look For
Green Flags:
- Third-Party Testing — Look for brands that publish their Certificates of Analysis (COAs) or participate in independent purity testing.
- Dark Glass Bottles — Avocado oil oxidizes quickly in light, so real brands protect their product with tinted glass or opaque packaging. How Long Olive Oil Last
- Harvest Date — Authentic, high-quality oils often print the harvest date, not just the expiration date.
Red Flags:
- Store Brands — The 2023 UC Davis study found that "private label" store brands had the highest rates of adulteration.
- Bargain Prices — It takes roughly 15 to 20 avocados to make a single bottle of oil, meaning if the price seems too good to be true, it's fake.
- Clear Plastic Bottles — Clear plastic allows UV light to degrade the oil and indicates a manufacturer cutting costs.
The Best Options
If you want the health benefits of avocado oil, you have to buy a brand that has been scientifically verified. Pure Avocado Oil Brands
| Brand | Product | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chosen Foods | 100% Pure Avocado Oil | ✅ | Passed both 2020 and 2023 UC Davis purity tests. |
| Marianne's | Avocado Oil | ✅ | Verified as pure and non-oxidized by independent researchers. |
| CalPure | Extra Virgin Avocado Oil | ✅ | Verified authentic cold-pressed virgin avocado oil from California. |
| Most Store Brands | Private Label Avocado Oil | 🚫 | 69% failure rate in the most recent independent testing. |
The Bottom Line
1. Stop buying store-brand avocado oil. Private label oils from major grocers have the highest failure rates for purity and quality.
2. Stick to verified brands. Chosen Foods and Marianne's consistently pass independent third-party lab tests for authenticity.
3. Protect your oil from light and heat. Even real avocado oil degrades quickly, so store it in a cool, dark cabinet rather than next to the stove.
FAQ
Is Costco's avocado oil real?
Kirkland Signature avocado oil has a mixed reputation, but Chosen Foods (which is frequently sold at Costco) is verified as 100% pure avocado oil. If you shop at Costco, buy the Chosen Foods brand to guarantee authenticity. Is Costco Olive Oil Real
How can I test my avocado oil at home?
Unfortunately, you cannot accurately test avocado oil at home. Because fraudulent suppliers use high-oleic filler oils that mimic the texture of avocado oil, it requires advanced gas chromatography lab testing to detect the fake stuff. Is Avocado Oil Real
Does avocado oil smell or taste like avocados?
Refined avocado oil should have a very mild, buttery, almost neutral flavor. Virgin, unrefined avocado oil will be dark green and have a distinctly grassy, mushroom-like, or buttery avocado flavor. If your oil smells like play-dough or old nuts, it has gone rancid.