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Coconut Oils Tested for Toxic Phthalates — Buying Guide

Mamavation » Blog » Food | Mamavation » Coconut Oils Tested for Toxic Phthalates — Buying Guide
Coconut Oils that contain low levels of phthalates

June 11, 2024 //  by Leah Segedie

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Which coconut oils have the least phthalate contamination? Phthalates are hormone-disrupting chemicals in plastics that find their way into many foods and personal care products. To solve this puzzle, Mamavation sent several of the most popular coconut 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 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 coconut 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 (update: We added additional coconut oil results on 11/2024) 

Coconuts open on the table

Table of Contents

  • Phthalates Found in Popular Coconut Oils
  • Types of Phthalates Found in Our Coconut 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 Coconut Oils & Phthalates
  • Mamavation’s Raw Data on Phthalates in Coconut Oil
    • Coconut Oils with The Most Contamination
    • Coconut Oils with Intermediate Contamination
    • Coconut Oils with the Least Contamination

Phthalates Found in Popular Coconut Oils

Mamavation’s EPA-certified laboratory found phthalates in 7 popular coconut 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 coconut 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 7 popular coconut oils from 7 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 coconut oils analyzed by our laboratory had traces of phthalates. This is a total of 7 detections from 7 coconut oil products.
  • Ranges of phthalates were from 134 parts per billion (ppb) to 1,331 ppb. Based on the amounts presented, we created 3 categories to communicate levels of phthalates found: (1) Coconut oils with the most contamination, (2) Coconut oils with intermediate contamination, & (3) Coconut 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 one result from Defend Our Health’s study on phthalates to give our audience more variety in choices.
  • 14% of coconut oil products had over 800 ppb phthalates. That’s 1 out of 7 bottles of coconut oils over 800 ppb. We dubbed this the “Coconut oils with the most contamination” realm.
  • 29% of coconut oil products had between 400 ppb and 800 ppb phthalates. That’s 2 out of 7 bottles of coconut oil between 400 ppb and 800 ppb. We dubbed this the “Coconut oils with intermediate contamination” realm.
  • 57% of coconut oil products had less than 400 ppb phthalates. That’s 4 out of 7 bottles of coconut oil that had below 400 ppb. We dubbed this the “Coconut oils with the least contamination” realm.
  • Although coconut oil had detections 100% of the time, those detections were significantly less than our findings of phthalates in olive oil. The range for olive oil was 655 parts per billion (ppb) to 6,092 ppb. This leads us to believe that coconut oil manufacturing may be “cleaner” overall in terms of phthalate contamination at this moment in time.
  • Update: We added additional coconut oil results on 11/2024 but did not adjust the information above.

In other words, all bottles of coconut oil we sent to the lab had traces of phthalates, however, it was consistently lower than what we found in olive oils. If you are using coconut 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. You can also check out our investigation on PFAs in cooking oils. However, as you can see, every coconut oil manufacturer whose products Mamavation studied has work to do to remove phthalates from their products. None of the coconut 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, & 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.”

Vegan coconut milk in powder and dissolved with water in a glass jar, lactose free milk on a gray background, horizontal

Types of Phthalates Found in Our Coconut 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.

  • Dicyclohexyl Phthalate (DCHP): DCHP is a Phthalate ester (PAEs) and a type of persistent organic pollutant (POP). It’s a phlegmatizer (i.e. lowers the excitement of molecules and keeps them from exploding) and dispersion agent, used in adhesives, as a sealant or in textile printing, as a co-plasticizer in PVC, rubber, and other plastics. This phthalate is classified as toxic for reproduction and has endocrine-disrupting properties and has also been linked to high cholesterol, & cardiovascular disease.
  • Di-2-ethylhexyl Phthalate (DEHP): DEHP is a highly toxic endocrine disruptor. It was also the most common phthalate found by our lab. 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 found 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.
  • Dimethyl Phthalate (DMP): This phthalate is a short-branched low molecular weight phthalate. It’s found commonly in safety glass, lacquer coatings, insect repellents, cosmetics, ink, soap, and household cleaning products. This phthalate has been linked to weight gain among other health problems via animal studies such as endocrine disruption, reproductive issues, liver & kidney toxicity, & cancer concerns.
  • 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  also 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.

Coconut Oils Tested for Toxic Phthalates on a blue background

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 was 1 coconut oil.

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 one additional result. However, all coconut oils & olive 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. It’s a matter of what levels are present. Both of our studies confirmed that these cooking oils have different levels of phthalates present.

coconut oil and fresh coconuts on old wooden table

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. It is simply deplorable to now learn that Mamavation is finding endocrine-disrupting phthalates in coconut oils. I use coconut oil as a butter substitute which I purchase thinking that it will be better for health than butter. And I feed it to our pets to improve their skin and coats. It’s so disappointing to learn that my good intentions may be doing more harm than good. 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 coconut oil manufacturers should begin acting to better protect their customers by rummaging through 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.”

jar of coconut oil and fresh coconuts on wooden table

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 recently denied a citizen petition in 2022 demanding 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 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 coconut oils, it could be possible 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, it 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 in a wide range of products since July 2020 such as DEHP, DBP, DIBP, and BBP. 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.

Coconut Oils Tested for Toxic Phthalates with coconuts in the background

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
  • 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
  • Ketchup
  • Activewear (Yoga Pants)
  • Sports Bras
  • Parchment Paper
  • Cupcake Liners
  • Plastic-Free Straws
  • Sandwich Baggies (Both plastic & more “sustainable” options)
  • Fast Food Packaging
  • Children’s Probiotics
  • Kids’ Backpacks
  • Baby Strollers
  • Baby Bottles

Organic coconut cooking oil, fresh fruits and leaf isolated on white

Mamavation’s Investigation of Coconut Oils & Phthalates

For this study, coconut 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 coconut oils tested had at least trace amounts of ortho-phthalates, a class of hormone-disrupting chemicals.

To make this a more user-friendly list, we have combined our raw data with raw data from the study done in 2023 from by Defend Our Health to give you more options. As you can see, the purpose behind this consumer study is not about completely removing phthalates from your coconut oil, but instead about selecting 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 olive 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, 71% tested had at least two phthalate types present, and 28% had at least three phthalates present. That’s not a good sign.”

Coconut oil tested for medium levels of phthalates with coconuts in the background

Mamavation’s Raw Data on Phthalates in Coconut Oil

Coconut Oils with The Most Contamination

This category contains coconut oils with more than 800 ppb total phthalates. Coconut oils marked with a * were from testing done in 2023 by Defend Our Health and added here for more variety. Mamavation is basing our study only on products tested by our EPA-certified lab, but also bringing in more options that were tested and released in 2023 for more information for our audience. Please note, USDA organic certification does not prohibit the use of phthalates in manufacturing.

  • *Crisco Refined Organic Coconut Oil — Total phthalates = 910 ppb
  • Better Body Foods Naturally Refined Organic Coconut Oil — Total phthalates = 1,331 ppb
  • Ellyndale Organic Coconut Oil (Now Foods) — Total phthalates = 800 ppb [updated: this product result was added 11/2024]

Coconut oil on a wooden table with coconuts open that have high levels of phthalates

Coconut Oils with Intermediate Contamination

This category represents coconut oils containing between 400 ppb and 800 ppb total phthalates.

  • Garden of Life Raw Extra Virgin Coconut Oil Simply Delicious — Total phthalates = 653.42 ppb
  • La Tourangelle Organic Virgin Coconut Oil — Total phthalates = 730.89 ppb

Coconuts on a chalkboard with "coconut oil" and a spoon

Coconut Oils with the Least Contamination

This category represents Coconut oils with less than 400 ppb total phthalates. This is our favored list of coconut oils for you to purchase.

  • Carrington Farms Organic Coconut Cooking Oil Unflavored — Total phthalates = 217 ppb (Walmart) 
  • Dr. Bronners Virgin Coconut Oil — Total phthalates = 126 ppb [updated: this product result was added 11/2024]
  • Island Fresh Organic Coconut Oil Virgin Cold Pressed — Total phthalates = 135 ppb (Walmart)
  • Nutiva Organic Virgin Coconut Oil — Total phthalates = 387 ppb (Target / Walmart)
  • Spectrum Organic Virgin Coconut Oil Cold Pressed Unrefined — Total phthalates = 361 ppb (Target / Walmart)

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Erica

    March 27, 2025 at 3:05 pm

    Kirkland?

    Reply
  2. Gainer

    February 19, 2025 at 4:04 pm

    This is great but I also would like to see the analysis done for the organic coconut oil from Trader Joe’s and Aldi’s (Simply Nature).

    Reply
  3. JT

    February 11, 2025 at 7:24 am

    I would love to know how Wildly Organic coconut oil tests. I buy one gallon buckets because we go through so much oil. Maybe I need to take the financial hit and buy smaller glass containers of oil? Thanks for what you do!

    Reply
  4. Anna

    January 15, 2025 at 5:12 pm

    How about Trafer’s Joe coconut oil?

    Reply
  5. Suzette

    January 15, 2025 at 4:34 pm

    I would also like to see Trader Joe’s organic virgin unrefined coconut oil tested along with Artisana raw coconut butter.

    Reply
  6. Bernadette

    November 29, 2024 at 3:22 pm

    Did you know that there were more than one product recalls on Nutiva Organic Virgin Coconut Oil — in 2015, 2019, etc. for various contanimants in the product? This is on your “Coconut Oils with the Least Contamination” list! In 2019 the Center for Food Saftey found benzo[a]pyrene in Nutiva brand Organic Refined Coconut Oil. In Mar 23, 2015 — “We are choosing to voluntarily recall three of our O’Coconut items”… How is this that this item is on your safe list?

    Reply
  7. Frio

    November 29, 2024 at 5:12 am

    I would like to see Dr Mercolas coconut oil tested as he now has it in glass bottles and all his other products are in glass containers

    Reply
    • mtman2

      March 1, 2025 at 9:06 am

      That’s one reason I buy ftom Mercola

      Reply
  8. Amy Doucette

    November 16, 2024 at 2:29 am

    Also wondering about Costco Kirkland organic coconut oil in plastic container.

    Reply
    • LJM

      December 22, 2024 at 8:20 pm

      Same here re: Costco Kirkland Organic Coconut Oil tub – I was hoping to find that evaluated here.

      Reply
      • Cat

        January 16, 2025 at 11:51 pm

        Me too, i cant dind the company that provides it for them…any responses?

        Reply
    • Amanda

      January 15, 2025 at 6:34 am

      Me too. Since it has a white label, I wonder who the original manufacturer is.

      Reply
  9. Helen

    November 13, 2024 at 9:53 am

    Hi, I will add my vote to ask you to please test Kirkland Organic Coconut oil and Trader Joe’s’

    Thanks for the fantastic work you do and caring so much for all of us!

    Reply
  10. Alexio E Silkwolfe

    November 13, 2024 at 3:13 am

    I hoped you had vivanaturals organics coconut oil. I would have liked to have known what the measurements of phthalates ppm were there. I hope RFK Jr inspires the younger generation to continue to persist in, “Making America Healthy Again” because it’s painful to hear how every company took part in the reproductive harm by using every chemical and gmo that sterilized so many folks, caused reproductive harm and the abuse in trust over our food, land, and water.

    Reply
    • Rushik Mistry

      March 23, 2025 at 10:15 pm

      Same here using this as well and curious to know

      Reply
  11. Harmz

    November 6, 2024 at 2:31 pm

    I think it’s insane we don’t have access to oils that are free of nasty chemicals. Something needs to be done. I want to start producing my own 100% chemical free organic oils for people who want it. Can anyone point me in the right direction on how I can get started? Any advice would be appreciated.

    Reply
  12. Anonymous

    November 6, 2024 at 10:35 am

    Any plans to test Whole Foods 365 and Natural Grocers store brand coconut oils?

    Reply
  13. Brigette

    November 6, 2024 at 10:20 am

    It’s impossible to avoid every toxin, and yes they are intentional. It’s much easier to control ppl who are in the dark and physically compromised. The best thing is to try and support your body’s natural cleansing abilities. That’s why we do Medical Medium. Not a plug, I’m not affiliated, but it makes me sad seeing all these worried comments and knowing that sadly the situation is not going to change anytime soon. Even if somehow all the powers that be decided to do everything they could to actually clean up this mess the chemicals would still persist for long, long time.
    That is why I’m saying we have to each do our best to strengthen our natural cleansing abilities and to hold accountable those responsible for contaminating the entire earth and the human species, amongst other widely unknown bad things they have done and continue doing..

    Reply
  14. Chris W

    November 6, 2024 at 9:57 am

    As some have mentioned, what about Kirkland (Costco), Tropical Traditions and Dr Mercola’s? They’re popular. Regardless, many thanks for what you do.

    Reply
    • Terri

      November 6, 2024 at 6:45 pm

      yes kirkland

      Reply
  15. Judith

    August 8, 2024 at 2:24 pm

    I am curious to know about refine coconut oil which I use for baking, from Nutiva.
    Thanks for the work you do.

    Reply
  16. Nick

    July 24, 2024 at 9:37 am

    Please add Dr. Bronner’s, Trader Joes, and Costco brands to the list!
    All in the Organic versions, as it seems to be the most commonly bought brands on here and clearly your audience is doing the research and probably already buying Organic, at the very least!

    Reply
    • Manny

      November 6, 2024 at 2:45 pm

      I would like to see the testing on Trader Joe’s organic coconut oil. Thank you so much Mamavation for going the extra mile for this research!!! Incredible value for us.

      Reply
    • Kris

      November 7, 2024 at 2:40 pm

      Dr Bronners IS on the list.

      Reply
      • Anonymous

        November 9, 2024 at 5:16 pm

        It wasn’t when this comment was posted, they just added it!

        Reply
    • Paul

      December 21, 2024 at 2:33 pm

      Curious about organic Whole Foods unrefined coconut oil!

      Reply
  17. Kat

    July 16, 2024 at 10:40 pm

    Does Artisana coconut oil have phthalates? Or what brand coconut oils are the best to use that are clean ?

    Reply
  18. Carin

    July 14, 2024 at 11:49 am

    Would love to hear about Tropical Traditions

    Reply
    • Gee

      November 9, 2024 at 8:47 am

      Me too!!

      Reply
  19. Jan

    July 13, 2024 at 3:03 pm

    I really appreciate your Phthalates resesearch, thank you! I recently discovered that some prescription pills have phthalate ingredients. Intentionally added, I mean! Feel free to contact me about this, it needs to be publicized. One example: TEVA brand Diclofenac Sodium Delayed-Release Tablets, USP; 50 mg, 75 mg; contains
    Polyvinyl Acetate Phthalate (UNII: 58QVG85GW3)

    Reply
  20. ss

    June 21, 2024 at 3:42 pm

    I second all the comments about Bronner’s organic coconut oil. I would LOVE to see those results!

    Reply
    • Stephanie Contino

      August 10, 2024 at 8:44 am

      YES!! I love the texture of Dr. Bronners, especially for oil pulling. Please review!!

      Reply
      • Teuta

        January 15, 2025 at 1:37 am

        What about Kirkland organic virgin coconut oil cold pressed unrefined?

        Reply
  21. Tracey

    June 16, 2024 at 12:39 pm

    Leah, I clicked on the link and ordered Island Fresh Organic Coconut Oil from Amazon. It arrived in a plastic container. I got my money back. I’m curious how this made the list of ‘Best Coconut Oils’?

    Reply
  22. Sonya

    June 16, 2024 at 4:44 am

    This study I found to be disappointing. Very few brands tested and biggest ones Trader Joe’s and Costco weren’t.
    A few I’ve never heard of but the ones with the best deal weren’t. Even aldis wasn’t done.

    Reply
    • Azam

      November 6, 2024 at 10:29 am

      How about Costco/ Kirkland organic coconut oil?

      Reply
    • Rita

      January 18, 2025 at 5:01 am

      When presenting percentages of results I was expecting a list of oils. 8 total were tested? Am I missing the link to the results?

      Reply
  23. Elizabeth St Clair

    June 13, 2024 at 7:16 am

    My comment is like the rest. It doesn’t seem like you hit a good cross section of coconut oils. Do you only test Whole food? Can you test more coconut oils.

    Reply
    • Rickey

      June 22, 2024 at 4:59 am

      It’s of unnecessary scientific jargon with little usable info about which brands to avoid

      Reply
      • ted

        July 26, 2024 at 10:43 pm

        I agree !!!!
        not much use for real life info.

        Tell us the products that safe or less toxic !
        Need a list of brand names… please UPDATE all your finds.

        Reply
  24. Di

    June 12, 2024 at 7:48 pm

    What about Organic Simple Truth Refined Coconut Oil, Expeller Pressed?

    Reply
  25. Liisa Plante

    June 11, 2024 at 1:46 pm

    I’ve been using Dr. Bronner’s unrefined coconut oil upwards of 15 years. I’d love to see it tested!

    Reply
    • Amber

      June 11, 2024 at 5:41 pm

      What about Aldi’s organic unrefined coconut oil?

      Reply
    • M Norris

      June 11, 2024 at 11:41 pm

      I agree- do not understand why it was not included?????

      Reply
      • Riley

        June 18, 2024 at 4:23 am

        What is the purpose of the USDA when so many food/ druds items are either not regulated to exclude toxins and/ or the USDA doesn’t preemptively test food and drug items before they are marketed? Ongoing monitoring should be conducted as well to ensure products are safe for humans and animals.

        Reply
        • C

          June 22, 2024 at 4:21 am

          Stop voting for the people for deregulation and it will stop being a thing.

          Reply
          • Denise

            October 10, 2024 at 5:57 am

            Things are regulated at the wazoo and the FDA approves many things that are grossly unhealthy. Relying on our government to protect us is foolish.
            I agree with other commenters who are requesting more brands to be tested. What about Chosen brand from Costco?

        • Fae

          June 30, 2024 at 3:50 pm

          The FDA in the USDA have long history of making corrupt choices driven by nothing more than capitalism and money making. I’d rather trust blogs like this then institutionally on trustworthy systems that don’t really care.

          Reply
    • jenny

      June 13, 2024 at 6:52 am

      Me too!

      Reply
    • Britney

      June 13, 2024 at 7:16 am

      Same!!! Dr. bronners recently became very hard to find in stores and I wonder why. This article wasn’t too helpful.. missing a lot of popular brands.

      Reply
      • N

        June 15, 2024 at 2:04 pm

        Based on the info here, maybe we should be alternating our brands, and avoiding these formerly smaller brands that are now larger. One of the best might be Tropical Traditions, as I know they use the traditional method of extraction, and have various grades of purity/freshness.

        Reply
    • Cristin

      June 13, 2024 at 1:47 pm

      me too!

      Reply
    • Tanya

      June 14, 2024 at 5:16 pm

      Same here! Dr. Bronners organic virgin coconut oil and also tropical traditions please!

      Reply
    • Andrea

      June 15, 2024 at 8:38 am

      Same here. It’s one of the few that doesn’t throw off the flavor of whatever you’re cooking.

      Reply
    • Nicola

      June 17, 2024 at 6:14 pm

      Same! Would love to see Dr. Bronner’s tested.

      Reply
  26. Christine Mallin

    June 11, 2024 at 1:15 pm

    Would you do a test on MCT oils sold at walmart.com?

    Reply
    • Ronald Dettman

      June 13, 2024 at 1:50 pm

      Most people purchase a store brand, so these lists are…

      Reply
  27. Jules

    June 11, 2024 at 1:00 pm

    Where does the one from Trader Joe’s fit in?

    Reply
  28. Steve

    June 11, 2024 at 11:54 am

    Wow, this is mind bending horrible!

    Thanks for the alert Leah!

    Reply
  29. LSW

    June 11, 2024 at 10:52 am

    So many of us use the Costco Kirkland brand organic coconut. Would be great to know its results.

    Reply
    • Terri

      June 12, 2024 at 12:58 pm

      yes me too. Costco organic coconut oil.

      Reply
    • Margaret

      June 12, 2024 at 4:36 pm

      Ditto…..

      Reply
    • KATHERINE

      June 13, 2024 at 8:26 am

      Yes!! Please. I second this.

      Reply
    • char

      June 13, 2024 at 8:59 am

      Yes please Leah. Understood Kirkland was Nutiva, but things change in a nano-second. Appreciate your work tremendously, thank you.

      Reply
    • Kali Perrone

      August 8, 2024 at 3:18 pm

      I agree, most of these lists are useless to me as I do most of my shopping at Costco since it’s the most affordable. They don’t seem to have info on most of the brands, offered there… Appreciate the good work, But it seems like Costco brands would be some of the most important to have on the list to make it actually useful to more people.

      Reply
      • Anonymous

        November 6, 2024 at 9:48 am

        Yes, I agree!

        Reply
  30. Anonymous

    June 11, 2024 at 9:46 am

    So please tell us the li

    Reply
  31. Elinor

    June 11, 2024 at 9:43 am

    Hello!
    I use a coconut oil called Dignity. (it’s raw coconut oil). I like that company because they do a lot of good things for their employees. Could you tell me where I could have their coconut oil tested for pthalates?
    Thank you!

    Reply
  32. Anonymous

    June 11, 2024 at 9:24 am

    Thank you Mamavation
    Please list the coconut oils that are the sa

    Reply
  33. Gary Bauchman

    June 11, 2024 at 9:19 am

    Did you check out the Coconut Oil we buy at Patel Bros?
    Their Brand “Swad” is distributed by Raja Foods, LLC. 8110 N St. Louis, Skokie, IL 70076.
    It comes on a glass jar, and the product is from Sri Lanka.
    “100% Raw Organic cold pressed virgin coconut oil. (Stays fresh a long time in the glass jar)
    Greatly enjoy your reviews!
    Thanks,
    Gary

    Reply
  34. Sue

    June 11, 2024 at 9:18 am

    Oh wow. What about Kirkland Organic Virgin Coconut Oil? Bet a ton of people buy that brand! I just got a new one.
    Coconut oil in glass a better idea? All these toxins is NUTS! It certainly makes eating less enjoyable. :0(

    Reply
  35. Heather

    June 11, 2024 at 9:08 am

    My favorite brand was not tested. Tropical Traditions.

    Reply
    • Bonnie

      June 11, 2024 at 5:24 pm

      They are the ONLY place I buy my coconut oil from, but I still can’t get used to the name change to Healthy Traditions, they will always be Tropical Traditions to me!

      Reply
  36. Kathleen Shiloh

    June 11, 2024 at 9:06 am

    Is there anything safe to eat or drink anymore? I think not. As a senior and having so many animals including farm animals, I do not have the time or the will power to grow my own food. During the hot summers in AZ, all the local farmers are closed until October. I can’t live on supplements alone. Now I’m reading the big corporations and Pharma drug companies are purchasing up the well-known supplement companies. This is such an evil world today. If you have any ideas of what is still healthy and safe to eat without chemicals, please let me know. I can live on simple food… not fussy anymore. I do have two chickens for our fresh eggs.

    Reply
    • Katherine

      June 12, 2024 at 9:05 am

      Greed has destroyed everything. Sadly, our health has ended up being the collateral damage.

      Reply
    • Anonymous

      June 18, 2024 at 8:30 am

      This is so true. Every day something comes out about something we ingest, wear, or use on a daily basis. I guess fasting is the healthiest option. Maybe living off the sun rays????

      Reply
    • Sandy

      November 6, 2024 at 9:38 am

      Hopefully, RFK jr will rectify this problem.

      Reply
  37. Ashley

    June 11, 2024 at 8:42 am

    Thank you so much for doing this! I wonder if someday you might be able to add to this study — the Kirkland coconut oil is used by A LOT of people, and I would LOVE to know the results for that. Thank you for all that you do!

    Reply
  38. Sandy

    June 11, 2024 at 8:40 am

    Could you make it possible to print out your articles? As of now all the ads show up and cover up some of the copy.

    Reply
  39. S

    June 11, 2024 at 8:37 am

    The best coconut oil, hands down, is from TropicalTraditions.com. You have to go to their site. They also have great grass fed meat (even on the bone, the best healthy tortilla chips, good olive oil, and many other things! You could spend days on their web site!

    Reply
    • Steve

      June 11, 2024 at 11:57 am

      Is it phthalate free?

      Reply
  40. Anonymous

    June 11, 2024 at 8:24 am

    Is Kirkland organic coconut oil toxic?

    Reply

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