ConsumerLab Tests Reveal Best Extra Virgin Olive Oils — and Which Fell Short

White Plains, NY, September 30, 2026 — “Extra virgin” on the label doesn’t always mean extra virgin in the bottle. In ConsumerLab’s review of 11 popular olive oils, an accredited tasting panel found that three had flavor or aroma defects that disqualified them as extra virgin—even though all 11 met the chemical requirements.

Key Findings:

• Three oils fell short of extra virgin quality: The sensory panel detected defects, such as a rancid flavor, in three products, despite all 11 meeting the minimum chemical requirements for extra virgin olive oil.

• “Heart healthy” compounds vary widely: Only four of the eight oils judged to be extra virgin contained at least 70% oleic acid, further qualifying them for a “reduced risk of coronary heart disease” claim. Antioxidant polyphenol levels across the tested oils ranged from 200.3 to 472.8 mg/kg.

• Higher cost did not reflect higher quality: The cost per tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil ranged from 16 to 61 cents, but cost did not indicate quality. Testing revealed the least expensive oil was among the best, while the most expensive was among the worst.

ConsumerLab’s Top Picks

Among products that passed ConsumerLab’s quality testing and were Approved, ConsumerLab selected Top Picks for mild, medium, and robust extra virgin olive oil based on quality, taste, and value.

Access the Full Report:

The Extra Virgin Olive Oil Review includes test results and comparisons for 11 extra virgin olive oils selected for testing by ConsumerLab: Atlas Olive Oils Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Bertolli Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Bragg Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, California Olive Ranch Extra Virgin Olive Oil - 100% California For Everyday - Bag In Box, California Olive Ranch Extra Virgin Olive Oil - 100% California For Everyday - Bottle, California Olive Ranch Extra Virgin Olive Oil - Global Blend, Graza “Drizzle” Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Graza “Sizzle” Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Kirkland Signature [Costco] Italian Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Kirkland Signature [Costco] Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, and Terra Delyssa Premium Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

ConsumerLab’s full Extra Virgin Olive Oil Review can now be accessed online by ConsumerLab.com members – currently over 100,000 individual subscribers and thousands more with access through libraries, schools, and medical centers.

As discussed in the review, extra virgin olive oil is oil that has been removed from the olive only by mechanical, such as pressing or crushing, or other physical means, such as heating, that do not lead to alterations in the oil, and must meet certain sensory and chemical requirements indicating that the olive oil has not been adulterated with other oils, been misprocessed, and is not spoiled. It is high in monounsaturated “healthy” fats due to its high concentration of oleic acid and tends to be high in antioxidant polyphenols compared to lower grades of oil.

When used as a replacement for saturated fat, olive oil has been associated with lower blood pressure, lower total and LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, and lower risk of cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular death, and death from neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, although these associations do not prove cause and effect. The review also explains what to look for when choosing an extra virgin olive oil, and the best way to cook with and store extra virgin olive oil to minimize the loss of polyphenols.

A video explaining ConsumerLab’s findings and offering expert tips for selecting and using extra virgin olive oil is available for free.

Founded in 1999, ConsumerLab.com is a leading provider of consumer information and independent evaluations of products that affect health and nutrition. It has tested and reviewed over 7,000 products and has published Product Reviews covering nearly every popular category of dietary supplements and health foods.

Membership to ConsumerLab.com is available online and provides immediate access to continually updated reviews of nearly every popular type of dietary supplement and health food, answers to reader questions, and product recalls and warnings. ConsumerLab also provides independent product testing through its voluntary Quality Certification Program. The company is privately held and based in New York. It has no ownership from, or interest in, companies that manufacture, distribute, or sell consumer products.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil Review: 11 Popular Products Tested by ConsumerLab