The Truth About Avocado Oil: How to Choose Real, Healthy Options

Avocado oil is often praised as one of the healthiest cooking oils—rich in monounsaturated fats, antioxidants, and with a high smoke point. But did you know that most avocado oils on the market may not be what they claim?

Testing on popular brands has found that a shocking 82% of avocado oils were either oxidized, adulterated with cheaper oils, or mislabeled entirely. In some cases, products labeled as “pure avocado oil” contained little or none at all.

This guide will help you separate the real from the fake so you can enjoy the health benefits of avocado oil—without falling for industry tricks.

1. Why Are So Many Avocado Oils Fake or Low-Quality?

The avocado oil industry lacks the strict regulations that protect olive oil buyers. This opens the door to:

• Oxidation – Oils go rancid during shipping or storage.

• Adulteration – Cheaper oils like soybean or canola are mixed in.

• Misleading origin labels – “Product of the USA” may only mean bottled there.

• Loose expiration rules – Many bottles list “best by” dates without harvest dates.

When oxidation sets in, the oil loses antioxidants like vitamin E and chlorophyll and can become inflammatory rather than beneficial.

Photo by Thought Catalog on Unsplash

2. How to Spot a Quality Avocado Oil