Our Purpose

The Avocado Trust is made up of local and global experts, organisations, and industry champions who are committed to protecting integrity, transparency and consumer trust in the avocado oil category.

Why is demand for avocado oil exploding?

Consumers are rethinking the oils they cook with. As questions continue to be raised about highly refined seed and vegetable oils, more people are turning to whole-food based alternatives.

Pure avocado oil offers a naturally high level of heart-supportive monounsaturated fats, antioxidants and cooking stability in one product. It delivers both nutritional value and performance in the kitchen, which is why demand is rising rapidly in our supermarkets and around the world.

Why 100% Pure Avocado Oil Matters

Pure avocado oil is naturally rich in monounsaturated fats, vitamin E and plant antioxidants. Avocados are recognised as a nutrient-dense whole food, and when the oil is extracted properly, many of those beneficial components are retained.

100% pure avocado oil is made entirely from avocados. It contains no blended seed oils, fillers or substitutes. That distinction matters because different oils have very different fat profiles. Avocado oil is predominantly composed of oleic acid, the same heart-supportive fat found in olive oil, rather than highly refined polyunsaturated seed oils that can become unstable under heat.

Choosing pure avocado oil means choosing an oil that reflects the nutritional profile of the fruit itself.

Naturally Contains Antioxidants

Avocado oil contains naturally occurring antioxidants, including vitamin E and plant compounds that help protect cells from oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is associated with inflammation and a range of long-term health concerns. These compounds support overall wellbeing and also contribute to the oil’s natural stability during cooking.

Other heavily refined oils can lose nutrients during processing.

Supports Everyday Wellness

Avocado oil is rich in oleic acid, a monounsaturated fat linked to improved cholesterol balance and cardiovascular health. Diets higher in monounsaturated fats and lower in unstable fats are consistently associated with better heart health outcomes.

Research suggests that replacing highly refined vegetable oils with oils rich in monounsaturated fats may help:

  • Lower LDL cholesterol
  • Maintain healthy HDL cholesterol
  • Support healthy blood pressure
  • Reduce markers of inflammation

The natural fats in avocado oil also assist with the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins such as A, D, E and K. They support digestion and help maintain the integrity of the gut lining.

Not all cooking oils provide these benefits. The composition of the fat makes a difference.

The essential fats found in avocados also aid digestion and nutrient absorption, helping nourish the gut lining and improving the body’s ability to absorb key nutrients.

High Smoke Point for Cooking

Avocado oil has a naturally high smoke point, which makes it suitable for sautéing, roasting, grilling and frying.

Oils that break down at lower temperatures can degrade and produce unwanted compounds. Because of its stable fat profile and natural antioxidants, avocado oil performs reliably at higher temperatures while maintaining flavour and quality.

It offers both nutritional value and practical performance in the kitchen.

Reference: Lin, X & Li, Z 2024, ‘Key components and multiple health functions ofavocado oil: A review’, Journal of Functional Foods, vol. 106494. ScienceDirect, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1756464624004961

Is it Pure?

Avocado oil has a scientific fingerprint. When properly tested, it either matches, or it does not.

Genuine avocado oil has a recognised chemical fingerprint that can be measured in an accredited laboratory. When a bottle says “100% Avocado Oil”, it is making a compositional claim.

Independent testing has shown that some products on Australian retail shelves labelled “100% avocado oil” do not meet these standards. Oils may be imported in bulk and bottled locally, but without laboratory verification there is no assurance the contents match the label.

Testing examines measurable markers including fatty acid composition, sterol profile, oxidation levels and, in some cases, allergen screening. If these fall outside recognised standards, the oil does not chemically match authentic avocado oil.

In Australia and New Zealand, food standards are overseen by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), drawing on international benchmarks developed under the Codex Alimentarius system supported by the World Health Organization. Codex sets recognised compositional ranges that define what authentic avocado oil looks like when tested.

If an oil falls outside those ranges, it does not match the accepted definition of genuine avocado oil.

Crude, Refined and Extra Virgin – What’s the Difference?

Avocado oil can be produced in different ways, and that affects what ends up in the bottle.

Extra virgin avocado oil is mechanically pressed and minimally processed, helping retain more of the fruit’s natural antioxidants and nutrients.

Refined oil is exposed to higher heat and further processing to remove colour and flavour. That process can reduce beneficial compounds and may produce chemical markers such as stigmastadienes, substances formed during heavy heat treatment that can indicate an oil has been refined rather than remaining extra virgin.

Crude oil is the raw extract and must be refined before it is suitable for consumption. How the oil is processed matters. The closer it remains to the original fruit, the more likely it is to retain its natural nutritional profile and the more transparent the product should be about its grade.

So, which avocado oil is proven to be 100% pure?

In Australia and New Zealand, The Avocado Trust has received independently verified testing for Grove Avocado Oil, Southern Forest Avocado Oil, Orchard Bay, AvoPure, Turners Harvest and J & P Turner products, with all found to be consistent with 100% purity claims.

If you’re concerned about whether your avocado oil is 100% pure, consumers can seek further information from the manufacturer or report potential misleading labelling claims to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) or Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ).

What are the experts saying?

Independent research in the United States, including work led by Professor Selina Wang at the University of California, Davis, has found that multiple avocado oil products on the market, do not meet recognised compositional standards.

Professor Wang’s work demonstrates that when oils fall outside established chemical profiles, it raises legitimate questions about purity and labelling accuracy.

Experts are concerned not only about authenticity but also about the potential for undeclared ingredients, including allergens, when verification is absent. While much of the reporting to date has focused on international markets, products imported and bottled in Australia and New Zealand may have the same issues.

This expert scrutiny highlights the importance of independent verification grounded in recognised science, rather than relying on assumptions of purity. Consumers deserve confidence that when a product is labelled “100% avocado oil”, it means exactly that.

Dr Rodney Mailer, Australian Oils Research Expert