Quick answer: You can't reliably tell whether avocado oil is pure from its colour, smell, price or whether it clouds in the fridge. Laboratories authenticate oil by its fatty-acid profile, sterols, triacylglycerol (TAG) fingerprint and other compositional markers, compared against genuine avocado oil. The most useful thing you can ask a brand for is a batch-linked lab report you can actually see.
The study that changed how we shop
Researchers at UC Davis, led by Dr. Selina Wang, tested avocado oils sold in American stores. Many samples were stale before their best-before date, and some were mixed with other, cheaper oils. A follow-up in 2023 found the problem was especially common in store-brand avocado oils, with nearly 70% of private-label samples rancid or blended.
Those studies weren't about India, and they aren't a verdict on any particular brand. But they changed everything for us.
How we reacted, and what we decided
Honestly, we were shocked. So many big, familiar names had failed the tests. We were relieved that the brand we'd been cooking with at home was one that passed, but we also knew that relief was luck, not knowledge.
So we studied the testing itself. While we were working on bringing avocado oil to India, Codex (the international food standards body) was finalising its first standard for avocado oil; it was adopted in 2024. We built TAC's own testing guideline on that Codex standard, and on the authenticity markers Dr. Wang's research uses to spot blended oil: the levels of palmitic acid (C16:0), oleic acid (C18:1) and linoleic acid (C18:2). A cheaper oil mixed in shifts that pattern. Our guideline also meets FSSAI's standard for avocado oil.
And we decided TAC would never ask you to rely on luck. Every batch would be tested, and every result shown.
What we test today, and what's next
We'd rather be honest about where we are than pretend we're finished.
| Marker | What it shows | TAC status |
|---|---|---|
| Fatty-acid profile (incl. C16:0, C18:1, C18:2) | Whether the oil's pattern matches genuine avocado oil | ✅ Every batch |
| Freshness (free fatty acids, peroxide value) | Whether the oil is fresh and well handled | ✅ Every batch |
| Contaminants (e.g. heavy metals) | Safety | ✅ Every batch |
| Sterols | Minor compounds that can reveal another oil mixed in | 🔜 Phase 2 |
| TAG fingerprint | A finer compositional fingerprint of the oil | 🔜 Phase 2 |
Why not sterols and TAG already? When we started, recognised NABL laboratories in India had to send those tests abroad, to the US or China. We'd rather build that capacity properly in India than outsource it, and building it takes time. Phase 2 begins after our founding batch, and we'll tell you here when it's live.
Why home "purity tests" don't work
| Home test | Why it fails |
|---|---|
| The fridge test | Clouding depends on fat composition, waxes, temperature and time. Genuine oil may or may not cloud; a blend can too. |
| Colour | Naturally refined avocado oil is pale; cold-pressed is green-gold. Ripeness and filtering change it too. |
| Smell and taste | Refined oils are neutral by design. A careful blend can't be tasted. |
| High price | Price can reflect quality, but research has found expensive oils that failed too. |
Transparency is a system, not a certificate
One certificate on a website proves very little. What builds real confidence is a repeatable system:
- A qualified, single-origin supplier.
- Every batch identified with a code.
- Testing at the source and again independently.
- Clear benchmarks (ours: Codex, plus FSSAI).
- A way for you to see the result for the tin in your hand.
Ours: tested at the producer in Málaga, re-tested at an independent NABL-accredited lab in India, and every report linked to the code on your tin through Know Your Batch.
What you can do as a shopper
- Prefer brands that name the oil's origin and extraction method.
- Ask for batch-specific testing, not a generic certificate.
- Choose protective packaging: tin or dark glass.
- Be curious, not cynical, about a very low price. Ask how it's possible.
Don't take our word for it. Check your batch.
Frequently asked questions
Can I test avocado oil purity at home?
No home method is reliable. Laboratory analysis is the credible route.
Does pure avocado oil solidify in the fridge?
It may cloud or partly solidify, but that neither proves nor disproves purity.
Is expensive avocado oil always genuine?
Not necessarily. Look for testing you can verify.
Does TAC test sterols?
Not yet. Sterol and TAG testing are our Phase 2, starting after our founding batch.
Keep reading
— Gayatri, co-founder and design lead, The Avo Company