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Avocado Oils Tested for Phthalates — Buying Guide

Mamavation » Blog » Food | Mamavation » Avocado Oils Tested for Phthalates — Buying Guide
Avocado oil tested for phthalates cut in half

August 6, 2024 //  by Leah Segedie

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Which avocado oils have the least toxic phthalate contamination? Phthalates are hormone-disrupting chemicals in plastics & fragrances that find their way into many foods and personal care products. To solve this puzzle, Mamavation sent several of the most popular avocado oils off to an EPA-certified laboratory to test for several types of phthalates to find out. You’ve trusted Mamavation to cover topics like safest olive oils tested for phthalates, safest coconut oils tested for phthalates, safest salt sans heavy metals and microplastics, safest cookware without PFAS “forever chemicals” and nanoparticles, and safest water purifiers that filter PFAS, now join us for another consumer study on avocado oils and hormone-disrupting phthalates.

Disclosure: This consumer study is released in partnership with Environmental Health News. Scientific reviews were performed by (1) Terrence Collins, Teresa Heinz Professor of Green Chemistry & Director of the Institute for Green Sciences at Carnegie Mellon University, (2) Linda S. Birnbaum, Scientist Emeritus and Former Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and National Toxicology Program & Scholar in Residence at Duke University, Adjunct Professor at the University of North Carolina, & Yale University, & (3) Pete Myers, Chief Scientist at Environmental Health Sciences, Adjunct Professor of Chemistry at Carnegie Mellon University, and Co-Author of Our Stolen Future. This post was medically reviewed by Sondra Strand, RN, BSN, PHN. Donations were provided by Environmental Health News and Mamavation community members. Note that Mamavation has only “spot-checked” the industry and thus we cannot make predictions about brands and products that we have not tested. Products and manufacturing aides can change without notice so buyer beware. This post contains affiliate links, with most to Amazon, which means Mamavation will receive a portion of those sales and we will use that to pay ourselves back for the testing. You can also give a tax-deductible donation to our consumer studies here through Environmental Health Sciences. Thank you!  Copyright © 2024 Mamavation — All Rights Reserved

Avocado oils cut in half with avocado oils in front on a wooden table

Table of Contents

  • Phthalates Found in Popular Avocado Oils
  • Types of Phthalates Found in Our Avocado Oil Study
  • Additional Studies Finding Phthalates in Cooking Oils
  • Phthalates Have Specific Problematic Health Effects
  • How are Phthalates Regulated in the Food Supply & Children’s Products?
  • Other Categories of Products Mamavation Has Tested for Toxic Contaminants
  • Mamavation’s Investigation of Avocado Oils & Phthalates
  • Mamavation’s Raw Data on Phthalates in Avocado Oil
    • Are You Kidding Me? Avocado Oil(s) with the Most Contamination
    • Not Our Favorite Avocado Oils with High Contamination
    • Better Avocado Oils With Intermediate Contamination
    • Best Avocado Oils with Least Contamination

Phthalates Found in Popular Avocado Oils

Mamavation’s EPA-certified laboratory found phthalates in 11 popular avocado oils. These chemicals are linked to serious health effects, which we will discuss later. Because phthalates are so problematic to hormones, Mamavation has commissioned our own scientific studies on phthalates in food products to make recommendations for the safest avocado oils. Continue reading Mamavation’s article on these products to find which brands have the lowest amounts of phthalates according to our laboratory.

For this consumer study, Mamavation sent 11 popular avocado oils from 11 brands to an EPA-certified laboratory looking for phthalates. Because Mamavation only tested one product per brand, we cannot claim to know if these issues are, in fact, industry-wide or portfolio-wide. However, based on our “spot-check” of the industry, this is what we found:

  • 100% of avocado oils analyzed by our laboratory had traces of phthalates. This is a total of 11 detections from 11 avocado oil products.
  • Ranges of phthalates were from 76 parts per billion (ppb) to 56,808 ppb. Based on the amounts presented, we created 4 categories to communicate levels of phthalates found: (1) Avocado oils with the most contamination (2) Avocado oils with still very high contamination, (3) Avocado oils with intermediate contamination, & (4) Avocado Oils with the least contamination. These categories are not based on health impacts. They are based on presenting data and where the middle ground lies in each category. We then added  2 results from Defend Our Health’s study on phthalates to give our audience more variety in choices.
  • 9% of Avocado oil products had over 20,000 ppb phthalates. That’s 1 bottle out of 11 avocado oils. We dubbed this the “Are You Kidding Me?” realm, which would have the highest amount of phthalates.
  • 18% of Avocado oil products had between 2,000 ppb and 20,000 phthalates. That’s 2 out of 11 bottles of avocado oils over 2,000 ppb. We dubbed this the “Not Our Favorite Avocado Oils with High Contamination” realm.
  • 27% of avocado oil products had between 800 ppb and 2,000 ppb phthalates. That’s 3 out of 11 bottles of avocado oil between 800 ppb and 2,000 ppb. We dubbed this the “Better Avocado Oils with Intermediate Contamination” realm.
  • 45% of avocado oil products had less than 800 ppb phthalates. That’s 5 out of 11 bottles of avocado oil that had below 800 ppb. We dubbed this the “Best Avocado Oils with Least Contamination” realm.

If you are using avocado oil to prepare meals for your family or as personal care, this investigation will be very important to follow to reduce your family’s exposure to phthalates. However, as you can see, every avocado oil manufacturer whose products Mamavation studied has work to do to remove phthalates from their products. None of the avocado oils that were tested by Mamavation or by Defend Our Health had zero detections of phthalates.

Phthalates are typically found inside plastics and in undisclosed fragrances. When in plastics, they work to make the plastic more flexible. When they are in fragrances, they help carry the scent longer in the air. These chemical contaminants are found in many types of products that are involved in the food service industry like food service gloves, tubing used in dairy operations, hoses, holding tanks, and conveyor belts inside manufacturing plants. In fact, there are so many places where phthalates can show up because they are legal indirect food additives used in manufacturing for both conventional AND organic foods. There is some movement to restrict some ortho-phthalate chemicals from food packaging but not from manufacturing in general.

Linda S. Birnbaum, Scientist Emeritus and Former Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and National Toxicology Program & Scholar in Residence at Duke University, Adjunct Professor at the University of North Carolina & at Yale University had this to say about the study after her review: “Phthalates cause multiple adverse health effects, including developmental effects in the reproductive system and neurotoxicity.  There is also evidence for causing cancer in laboratory animals.”

Woman holding an avocado and avocado oil wearing a white bathrobe

Types of Phthalates Found in Our Avocado Oil Study

Our laboratory found five different types of phthalates in the coconut oil we sent to them. Here’s a brief breakdown of each one.

  • Di-2-ethylhexyl Phthalate (DEHP): DEHP is a highly toxic endocrine disruptor. It was also the most common phthalate found by our lab and is found commonly in building products (wallpaper, wire, and cable insulation), clothing (footwear, raincoats), car products, food packaging, medical devices, and children’s products (toys, grip bumpers). This chemical is also on California’s Prop. 65 list of carcinogens and reproductive toxicants. In addition, it’s been linked to endocrine disruption, reproductive issues, developmental issues, liver & kidney toxicity, asthma & allergies, & thyroid problems.
  • Diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP): Found commonly in PVC plastics, artificial leather, toys, carpet backing, covering on wires and cables, and pool liners. This chemical is also on California’s Prop. 65 list of carcinogens and reproductive toxicants. It’s associated with health concerns including liver & kidney toxicity, developmental issues, endocrine disruption, reproductive issues, asthma & allergies, & thyroid problems.
  • Bis(2-propylheptyl) Phthalate (DPHP): This type of phthalate is a substitute for other high molecular weight phthalates used primarily for high-temperature applications such as cable wires, roofing membranes, and food containers. It is used to soften plastics and is a general-use plasticizer under investigation as an endocrine disruptor. This phthalate is associated with additional health concerns like reproductive toxicity, prenatal, perinatal, & post-natal toxicity, and genotoxicity.
  • Di-n-octyl phthalate (DnOP): This type of phthalate is a colorless, odorless, oily liquid that doesn’t evaporate easily used to keep plastics soft or more flexible. It is used for medical tubing and blood storage bags, wire and cables, carpetback coating, floor tile, adhesives, cosmetics, and pesticides. Animal studies have demonstrated increased fetal malformations and reduced body weights of offspring. DnOP comprises about 20% of commercial C6-10 phthalate mixtures used in flooring and carpet tiles, tarps, pool liners, and garden hoses. DnOP is approved by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) as an indirect food additive which is typically used in manufacturing as seam cements, bottle cap liners, and conveyor belts. DNOP are classified by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) as priority environmental pollutants.
  • Dibutyl phthalate (DBP): This type of phthalate is an organic compound commonly used as a plasticizer, and as an additive to
    adhesives or printing inks. It usually is a colorless oil, but can have a yellow color. Use of this substance in cosmetics, such as in nail polishes, is banned in the European Union. DBP is one of the six phthalic acid esters found on the Priority Pollutant List regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Animal studies have observed that DBP is toxic to fetal development. This phthalate is associated with additional health concerns like reproductive toxicity, prenatal, perinatal, & post-natal toxicity, and genotoxicity.
  • Diisononyl phthalate (DINP): This type of phthalate is used as a plasticizer. The European Union has set restrictions on this chemical inside food contact materials because of the determination that it’s problematic to human health. DINP is also listed on the California Prop. 65  list of carcinogens and reproductive toxicants.

Avocado and avocado oil on wooden background. Selective focus.food

Additional Studies Finding Phthalates in Cooking Oils

Another scientific report co-authored by our friends at Defend Our Health published in the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology found phthalates in a range of popular children’s foods and organic products in 2023. Included in this report were 2 avocado oils.

Mamavation took the results from this report and added it to our list of recommendations at the bottom of this post for your review, which was two additional results. However, all coconut oils, olive oils, & avocado oils tested by Defend Our Health also had trace amounts of phthalates. It’s not so much a question of whether there are phthalates present in coconut oils, olive oils, & avocado oils. It’s a matter of what levels are present. Both of our studies confirmed that these cooking oils have different levels of phthalates present.

  • View our consumer study on olive oils here.
  • View our consumer study on coconut oils here.

Avocado halves with avocado oil inside a glass ramekin

Phthalates Have Specific Problematic Health Effects

Phthalates are linked to many health effects from several studies on both animals and humans. This is very problematic because phthalates are linked with hormone disruption of the endocrine system, which regulates the body’s hormones, even in trace amounts in low concentrations. Epidemiological studies have revealed that exposure to phthalates adversely affects the level of hormones within the body, which can impact several important health functions. Here are some health effects phthalate exposure is linked to.

  • Weight gain & obesity
  • Shorter height
  • Precocious puberty
  • Asthma
  • Allergies
  • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) 
  • Lower IQ
  • Social impairment
  • Type II diabetes and insulin resistance
  • Poor cardiovascular health
  • Thyroid function and increased risk of thyroid cancer
  • Females: pregnancy loss and preterm birth, low birth weight, earlier menopause
  • Males: genital development, semen quality, reduced “masculine” play, Inhibits testosterone production, Shortened anogenital distance, or shortened “taint” , Shortened length of penis

Terrence Collins, Teresa Heinz Professor of Green Chemistry & Director of the Institute for Green Sciences at Carnegie Mellon University had this to say about the study during his scientific review: “An earlier Mamavation study found that olive oils are contaminated with phthalates. Now Mamavation is finding phthalates in avocado oils. Phthalates are anti-androgens—they disrupt male hormone action.  Currently, highly chemicalized countries like America are experiencing a steady drop in male fertility, quantified through a population-level decline in mean sperm count and quality. Phthalate exposures are suspected of playing a role in the declines. Phthalate contamination of food oils is completely unacceptable!  Like the olive oil manufacturers, the avocado oil manufacturers should begin acting to better protect their customers by thoroughly examining every aspect of their supply and manufacturing chains to ensure that all phthalates are eliminated. And then they should learn much more about endocrine disruption and become extremely diligent in producing products that are free of endocrine-disrupting chemicals. One has to wonder why the FDA appears to be asleep on the job.”

avocado oil in a small ceramic bowl and avacado fruit against white art canvas

How are Phthalates Regulated in the Food Supply & Children’s Products?

Because phthalates are so problematic to human health, there are varying restrictions on products and food at the federal level. There is, however, no consistency among federal agencies to protect the public. For instance, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) restricts certain phthalates within children’s toys and childcare products. They prohibit the import and sale of those products that contain more than 0.1% of the following phthalates:

  • di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP)
  • dibutyl phthalate (DBP)
  • benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP)
  • diisononyl phthalate (DINP)
  • diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP)
  • di-n-pentyl phthalate (DPENP)
  • di-n-hexyl phthalate (DHEXP)
  • dicyclohexyl phthalate (DCHP)

Even though the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission restricted 8 ortho-phthalates in products intended for use by children, you still see some of the same chemicals approved as indirect additives by the FDA in the food supply even when those foods are marketed to children. Furthermore, the FDA denied a citizen petition in 2022 which demanded to take these phthalate chemicals out of the food supply because they impact the hormones of children.

California also has some restrictions under the Prop. 65 list of Carcinogens and Reproductive Toxicants, requiring products sold over the limits to be accompanied by a warning. Any consumer living in California who tests and finds products with specific phthalate amounts outside the limits may bring a Prop. 65 lawsuit six months after serving the company with a public notification letter. However, be advised these limits are not enforceable. California’s “right to know” law is only about warning the consumer about the carcinogenic chemicals present. Therefore, California cannot force companies to recall products that are above these limits. Here are the phthalate-criteria:

  • BBP – Maximum Allowable Dose Levels (MADL) 1,200 μg/day (oral)
  • DBP – MADL 8.7 μg/day
  • DIDP – MADL 2,200 μg/day
  • DnHP – MADL 2,200 μg/day
  • DEHP – No Significant Risk Level (NSRL) 310 μg/day (adult), MADL 4,200 μg/day (intravenous adult), MADL 600 (intravenous infant), MADL 410 ug/day (oral for adult), MADL 58 ug/day (oral for infant).
  • DINP – NSRL 146 μg/day

In terms of avocado oils, it could be possible that the vast majority of phthalates are finding their way into the product during manufacturing, storage, or transportation. Under the Food & Drug Administration 21 CFR rules, FDA regulates food, drugs, cosmetics, and food contact materials within the United States. The FDA sanctioned the use of 25 plasticizers via an amendment to food additive regulations: 21 CFR Part 175 through 21 CFR Part 178. These regulations allow the use of phthalates in the food supply as “indirect food additives” that can be present. These chemicals can find their way into your food in many ways during manufacturing such as:

  • Adhesives and components of coatings used in food contact materials.
  • Components of paper and paperboard, such as paperboard that is in contact with aqueous and fatty foods or used as a defoaming agent on the paperboard.
  • Adjuvants, production aids, and sanitizers used in manufacturing.
  • Plasticizers in polymeric substances, such as phthalates in plastic PVA or PVC sheets in food contact materials OR vinyl chloride homopolymers or copolymers used in food contact materials.
  • Surface lubricants used to make metallic products.

The European Union has banned or restricted several phthalates such as DEHP, DBP, DIBP, and BBP in a wide range of products since 2020. These bans and restrictions include children’s swimming aids, flooring, coated fabrics and paper, recreational gear, mattresses, footwear, and office supplies, among other categories. These chemicals are not expected to be found in foods above certain thresholds. However, not all phthalates are restricted or tested for either.

Avocado Oil on a table with avocados next to it

Other Categories of Products Mamavation Has Tested for Toxic Contaminants

Before we launch into the raw data from our lab, we wanted to remind you about all the other studies we have done on indications of PFAS “forever chemicals,” pesticides, & heavy metals inside the food and consumer products you may bring inside your home. Each one of these studies were done in a similar fashion as this study with brands sent independently to the certified lab and raw data of those labs at the bottom of the post.

  • Soft Contact Lenses
  • Green Beauty Makeup
  • Lip Balm
  • Condoms & Lubricants
  • Dental Floss
  • Toilet Paper
  • Tissue Paper
  • Period Underwear
  • Tampons
  • Sanitary Pads, Pantiliners, & Incontinence Pads
  • Powdered Electrolytes
  • Cinnamon
  • Salt
  • Butter Wrappers
  • Pasta & Tomato Sauces
  • Nut Butters (Peanut butter, etc.)
  • Coffee
  • Olive oils
  • Coconut oils
  • Ketchup
  • Activewear (Yoga Pants)
  • Sports Bras
  • Parchment Paper
  • Cupcake Liners
  • Plastic-Free Straws
  • Sandwich Baggies (Both plastic & more “sustainable” options)
  • Fast Food Packaging
  • Furniture
  • Children’s Probiotics
  • Kids’ Backpacks
  • Baby Strollers
  • Baby Bottles

Avocado oils sitting on a wooden table

Mamavation’s Investigation of Avocado Oils & Phthalates

For this study, avocado oils were purchased between February 2023 and May 2024. Each product was recorded in our database and sent directly to the lab within its original packaging. Unfortunately, 100% of avocado oils tested had at least trace amounts of ortho-phthalates, a class of hormone-disrupting chemicals.

To make this a more comprehensive list, we have combined our raw data with raw data from the study done in 2023 by Defend Our Health. As you can see, the purpose behind this consumer study is designed to help you select a food product with lower amounts of phthalates.

Mamavation’s EPA-certified lab tested for the following phthalates. This is not a complete list of all the phthalates that are allowed to be present as an indirect food additive according to the FDA, however, this list goes above and beyond what is already restricted by the European Union or the State of California and mirrors what was tested in 2023 by Defend Our Health.

  • Diethyl phthalate (DEP)
  • Di-n-propyl phthalate (DPP)
  • Diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP)
  • Dibutyl phthalate (DBP)
  • Dihexyl phthalate (DnHP)
  • Benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP)
  • Dicyclohexyl phthalate (DCHP)
  • Diisononyl phthalate (DINP)
  • Di-n-octyl phthalate (DnOP)
  • Diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP)
  • bis(2-Ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP)
  • Dimethyl phthalate (DMP)
  • Bis(2-propylheptyl) Phthalate (DPHP)
  • Didecyl phthalate (DDP)

Pete Myers, Chief Scientist at Environmental Health Sciences, Adjunct Professor of Chemistry at Carnegie Mellon University, and Co-Author of Our Stolen Future had this to say: “The presence of individual types of phthalates in avocado oils is just a starting point.  Scientific experts in endocrine disruption are deeply concerned about the simultaneous effect of the mixtures of phthalates present.  In our samples, 91% tested had at least two phthalate types present, and 64% had at least three phthalates present. That’s not a good sign.”

Avocado oil with avocados on a white table

Mamavation’s Raw Data on Phthalates in Avocado Oil

Are You Kidding Me? Avocado Oil(s) with the Most Contamination

This category contains avocado oils sent to our EPA-certified laboratory and found to have phthalate sum levels over 20,000 ppb.

  • Madhava Clean & Simple Avocado Oil — Total phthalate 56,808 ppb

Not Our Favorite Avocado Oils with High Contamination

This category contains avocado oils sent to our EPA-certified laboratory and found to have phthalate sum levels between 2,000 ppb and 20,000 ppb. Products marked with an * came from the Defend Our Health Study.

  • Primal Kitchen Pure Avocado Oil Centrifuge Extracted — Total phthalate 2,774 ppb
  • *Private Selection Avocado Oil (Kroger Brand) — Total phthalate 3,032 ppb
  • *Simple Truth Organic Refined Avocado Oil Bottle (Kroger Brand) — Total phthalate 2,912 ppb
  • Trader Joe’s Avocado Oil All Purpose High Heat Cooking Oil — Total phthalate 2,426 ppb

Avocado oil with a paring knife on a dark wooden table

Better Avocado Oils With Intermediate Contamination

This category contains avocado oils sent to our EPA-certified laboratory and found to have phthalate sum levels between 800 ppb and 2,000 ppb.

  • Better Body Foods Avocado Oil — Total phthalate 1,331 ppb
  • Chosen Foods 100% Pure Avocado Oil — Total phthalate 1,130 ppb
  • La Tourangelle Delicate Avocado Oil Huile D’Avocat — Total phthalate 1,450 ppb

massage with avocado oil concept, avocado oil in a jar, sliced avocados and gua sha slices on a green and beige background

Best Avocado Oils with Least Contamination

This category contains avocado oils sent to our EPA-certified laboratory and found to have phthalate sum levels less than 800 ppb.

  • Amazon Fresh Avocado Oil — Total phthalate 159 ppb
  • AVOHASS Avocado Oil — Total phthalate 218 ppb (Walmart)
  • AVO Avocado Oil — Total phthalate 682 ppb
  • Nutiva Organic Avocado Oil — Total phthalate 76 ppb ( Target / Walmart)
  • Plant Junkie Organic Avocado Oil — Total phthalate 415 ppb (Walmart)

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Candice

    April 15, 2025 at 9:50 am

    Yes. Please test Marianne’s avocado oil from Costco.

    Reply
  2. Jl

    March 18, 2025 at 4:28 am

    So 11 total bottles were tested. Only 11. There’s no link to the test itself. We don’t know if the bottles were contaminated before they were sent in. We don’t know the makeup of the bottles before they were sent in. We don’t know how the avocados were handled before they were turned into oil. There seems to be a lot of information that is missing in this “study”.

    Reply
  3. James

    March 13, 2025 at 10:02 am

    Very hard to read this website has so many ads and broken text and more ads between paragraphs. The data is much appreciated but it’s very hard to navigate this website.

    Reply
  4. Brian

    January 2, 2025 at 1:40 pm

    Couple this with UC Davis study in 2020 finding that 82% of Avocado Oil is Rancid or Mixed with Other Oils. Only 2 brands were pure and nonoxidized: Chosen Foods and Marianne’s Avocado Oil. But Chosen Foods on this Mamavation study revealed 1130 ppb and Marianne’s isn’t listed. Could you test that one and update?

    Reply
  5. Adam

    November 30, 2024 at 4:48 am

    This makes no sense. The ones that have higher values the links are mostly plastic bottle of the brand offers plastic bottles. And the ones which are lower were glass. So is it the actual extraction process or is it the plastic bottle? Without this key info as to what was actually tested this “study” is meaningless.

    Reply
    • OhYUPitsDfugginLo

      December 19, 2024 at 5:49 am

      Stop being in denial. Oils tend to pull and attract phthalates from plastics and is far greater than bottled water. Let go of your plant based ways and learn to cook in ghee, grass fed butter and tallow as cooking options.

      Not to mention when you cook with avocado oils, the linoleic acids instantly become oxidized, which will result in further health problems.

      Reply
    • Clara

      December 20, 2024 at 8:06 pm

      Unfortunately I found this secret out by mistake! So I heard that Primal Kitchen gets their avocado oil from Mexico in a food grade PLASTIC IBC tote container. They’re those large plastic squares that hold 275 gallons and have the metal cage. Ask me how I know? I bought a used one for emergency water storage. The guy selling it from the classifieds said it came from Primal Kitchen. The label says the oil was harvested in Mexico, then shipped all the way to Spain for processing, and then it landed in USA to be packaged in glass. I’ll never buy Primal Kitchen again…. the glass consumer bottle feels very deceptive knowing how much time its spent in plastic along the manufacturing journey.

      Reply
  6. Lia Shaw

    November 14, 2024 at 10:31 am

    I wanted to start using avocado oil instead of coconut oil for frying and read that most of the avocado oil is fake, made up of cheaper oils, Primal kitchen was one that was recommended, however after reading this and the comments I’m really confused as to what avocado brand to use and if it is really real or fake. (just bought a bottle from Trader joes) Yes please review the avocado oils that Costco carries please and let us know if it is really 100% avocado or part fake or all fake. thanks

    Reply
  7. Haily

    October 10, 2024 at 12:22 pm

    After reading this study and as much as I love them, i am not eating avocados anymore!

    Reply
    • Robin

      November 24, 2024 at 10:31 am

      It’s not the avocados themselves, it’s the process of extracting and bottling the oil where the contamination takes place.
      Don’t be afraid of eating avocados, especially organic ones!

      Reply
    • tim

      December 17, 2024 at 5:48 am

      this has nothing to do with avocados just the process by which the oil is made

      Reply
  8. sandra

    October 3, 2024 at 9:16 am

    For Chosen foods and others – did they test avocado oil in glass or plastic containers? I wonder if it’s not the oil but the container? I can’t believe Amazon comes up purer than Chosen? Amazon? Really?

    Reply
    • MB

      November 20, 2024 at 6:34 am

      This is a great question- I was wondering the same thing, if it’s really about a glass vs plastic container.

      Reply
    • Cindy Jennings

      December 22, 2024 at 8:50 pm

      I was wondering the same thing and found it odd that Nutiva had the lowest number but was sold in a plastic bottle.

      Reply
    • Karen Towle

      December 23, 2024 at 9:46 am

      Exactly what I’m wondering! Glass vs. plastic, And does t Chosen 3rd party test?

      Reply
    • Tom

      January 14, 2025 at 4:25 pm

      I would really like to know this too.

      Reply
  9. Lori

    September 26, 2024 at 8:20 pm

    I would love to send you some from Azure Standard if you are still testing!

    Reply
  10. Aigul

    September 9, 2024 at 6:00 pm

    What about OTTAVIO Avocado oil from Costco?

    Reply
  11. Robert Batey

    September 1, 2024 at 10:17 am

    Please say whether the product being stored in plastic or glass affects the Phthalate level. I went to buy the Amazon Fresh brand but it only comes in plastic now

    Reply
    • Anonymous

      November 2, 2024 at 8:36 am

      I also want to know?

      Reply
  12. Robert Batey

    September 1, 2024 at 10:11 am

    Are the high levels caused by plastic packaging, or caused by other manufacturing methods? In other words, will ones on the “intermediate” or “best” list be bad if bought in a plastic container?

    Reply
    • AB

      September 9, 2024 at 11:56 am

      I was wondering this too. Did they test the chosen avo in the plastic or glass bottle?

      Reply
  13. Gabriel Sovereign

    August 30, 2024 at 4:58 pm

    This list is very confusing. Earlier this year I looked at your oil test results from two years ago and some of the best oils then are in the worst oils now. It almost seems like more tests would be helpful. I’d also like to know about heavy metal contamination.

    Reply
  14. Gay Maloney

    August 11, 2024 at 11:13 am

    How good is Kevala avocado oil?

    Reply
  15. Rudolph Cane

    August 10, 2024 at 3:10 pm

    If able, include Ciuti brand Avocado Oil. We buy by the case at our local Restaurant Depot.

    It may be the brand carried by many other wholesale restaurant distributors.

    Thank you.

    Reply
  16. Ward

    August 10, 2024 at 9:25 am

    Thanks for this! I stopped using primal kitchen, avocado oil a while back, but I am still using their avocado oil based mayonnaise. Could we do a review of different mayonnaise products?

    Reply
  17. Please Test

    August 10, 2024 at 5:14 am

    Why have you not tested “Chosen Food’s” Avocado Oil? I believe it is the most popular brand. Thanks

    Reply
    • Anonymous

      August 15, 2024 at 5:08 pm

      It’s in the “Better Avocado Oils With Intermediate Contamination” section of the article.

      Reply
    • Micheline Plaskett

      August 18, 2024 at 8:51 am

      Look closer! CHOSEN is in the article (as better but not best.)

      Reply
    • MAHA

      September 1, 2024 at 6:46 pm

      You obviously didn’t read or search thoroughly. Its there.

      Chosen Foods 100% Pure Avocado Oil — Total phthalate 1,130 ppb

      Reply
  18. arlene

    August 9, 2024 at 3:55 pm

    It’s bad enough that with all the money Primal Kitchen makes, the company isn’t willing to use organic avocados in its products, but now this. I don’t know how Primal Kitchen justifies the high phthalates in the context of their mission statement about “high-quality ingredients that make mealtime easy and delicious, so you can get the most out of life.”

    Our family started using Primal Kitchen products back in the days when Mark Sisson answered his own emails… I imagine our family has consumed billions of phthalates via the company’s “healthy” products by now.
    Fortunately, I recently switched to Nutiva.

    Reply
    • Lin

      November 15, 2024 at 5:11 am

      He sold the company to Kraft years ago.

      Reply
  19. Jane Dawson

    August 9, 2024 at 11:13 am

    Thanks for your work.
    I am also confused about Primal Kitchen brand going from good to awful.
    Any comments on why.
    I have never seen it in plastic bottles only glass.

    Reply
    • Lin

      November 15, 2024 at 5:15 am

      Kraft owns Primal. Mark sold several years ago.

      Reply
      • Richard A McRae

        March 31, 2025 at 11:46 am

        Holy s____!!!!

        Reply
  20. Ks

    August 8, 2024 at 5:09 pm

    If it’s possible to get info on Aldi’s avo oil that would be amazing!

    Reply
    • Marla

      September 9, 2024 at 6:04 am

      Yes, please let us know about ALDIs Avacado and Olive oils!???

      Reply
    • Brent

      September 11, 2024 at 8:54 am

      To those asking about Aldi’s Avocado Oil,
      In my experience, I’ve never had a high smoke point in the 3 or 4 bottles I have purchased. Comparing this to using Chosen Foods, I’d have to say that Aldi’s is not a pure Acocado Oil. I can’t speak on contaminants, unfortunately.

      Reply
  21. Kali Perrone

    August 8, 2024 at 3:13 pm

    Please test brands Costco carries, like Marianne’s Avacado oil.

    Reply
    • Anonymous

      August 19, 2024 at 10:54 am

      Yes. Please test Marianne’s avocado oil from Costco.

      Reply
      • Anonymous

        September 9, 2024 at 11:36 am

        Please test Marianne’s Avocado Oil from Costco!

        Reply
  22. Anonymous

    August 8, 2024 at 10:35 am

    Thank you for the important information. Fyi – the website is really ‘jumpy’ and that made it difficult read the lengthy articles.

    Reply
  23. Maneh Bagramyan

    August 8, 2024 at 7:22 am

    Was the chosen food one tested from the plastic bottle (as in your linked product on amazon) or from the glass? I usually only see the glass and buy that so I’m wondering if there is a difference. Thank you

    Reply
  24. Mercedes

    August 7, 2024 at 11:37 am

    Thank you for this investigation! Please test Ava Jane’s Kitchen next time you test avocado oils. Thank you!

    Reply
  25. Saundra

    August 7, 2024 at 10:13 am

    I’m somewhat confused as there was an earlier avocado oil test that you did and Primal Kitchen was on the best list. On this current study it is on the worst list. Can you please explain, perhaps the earlier test was looking at something other than phthalates?
    Thank you for any guidance that you have.

    Reply
    • healthymom101

      August 26, 2024 at 11:54 am

      Sadly, Primal Kitchen isn’t as good as it used to be.

      Reply
  26. June

    August 6, 2024 at 6:21 pm

    Thank you for all your effort…valuable information!

    Reply
  27. Tammy

    August 6, 2024 at 4:22 pm

    Does this test apply to both glass & plastic bottles holding the avocado oil? I could not see a reference as to containers and whether these results apply to both glass & plastic bottles. Thank you so much

    Reply
  28. Pat Holland

    August 6, 2024 at 2:48 pm

    I send folks to your website.

    Please test Spectrum Culinary Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil cold extracted unrefined, product of Portugal in 24 oz. glass bottles.

    And when you do, please let me know the results.

    Best Regards,

    Reply
  29. Karen

    August 6, 2024 at 2:45 pm

    I recall that you did a study on food processors but do not find it listed here. Please tell me where I can find it.

    Reply
  30. Patty Sanders

    August 6, 2024 at 2:20 pm

    Wow! Who would have thought there would be such high phthalate contamination in avocado oil. Costco carries a Marianne’s Harvest Brands Avocado oil. Would love it if you could include that if you do an update.

    Thanks so much,
    Patty

    Reply
    • A San

      August 20, 2024 at 3:10 am

      Hi, thank you for this information. Does the oil being in glass or plastic impact the results? Which chosen avocado oil was rated, plastic or glass bottle?
      Thanks

      Reply
  31. Debby

    August 6, 2024 at 1:49 pm

    Can you please test more Costco products.

    Reply
  32. Kelly

    August 6, 2024 at 1:46 pm

    I looked up Nutiva avocado oil at the link you provided to Amazon. It’s quite pricey. So, I thought I’d order the largest bottle for the best price. However, unlike the smaller glass bottle, the 128 Oz bottle is plastic. When you tested this oil did you test one from the glass bottle? Won’t it probably be a lot higher in a plastic bottle?

    Reply

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