Our Purity Standard: Why Codex Compliance Matters

Apr 18
3 min read

The Avocado Oil Crisis Is Real

~2/3 of avocado oils failed purity tests in a UC Davis study of 36 samples from 19 major grocery chains — including products sold at Walmart, Sam's Club, Kroger, and Safeway.

The FDA has confirmed that high-value oils are "potential targets for economically motivated adulteration." Cheap seed oils are being blended and mislabeled as premium avocado oil — the same playbook that cost the olive oil industry billions in lost consumer trust.

Source: Washington Post, August 27, 2024 — "Why your avocado oil may be fake and contain other cheap oils".

What Is the Codex Alimentarius Standard?

Codex Alimentarius (CXS 210-1999) is the global food safety standard established by the FAO and WHO, used by 189 countries. In December 2024, avocado oil was officially added to the Codex standard at the 47th Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission.

The standard defines:

Fatty acid composition ranges (Table 1)
Sterol profile ranges (Table 3)
Chemical and physical characteristics (Table 2)
Labeling and hygiene requirements

Codex Fatty Acid Profile — What Pure Avocado Oil Must Contain

Pure avocado oil has a specific fatty acid fingerprint that cannot be faked. The Codex standard defines these ranges:

Oleic Acid (C18:1): 42.0 – 75.0% — The primary marker of purity. Oils outside this range are adulterated.
Palmitic Acid (C16:0): 11.0 – 26.0%
Palmitoleic Acid (C16:1): 4.0 – 17.1% — Unique to avocado oil; low or absent in seed oil adulterants.
Linoleic Acid (C18:2): 7.8 – 19.0%
Stearic Acid (C18:0): 0.1 – 1.3%
Linolenic Acid (C18:3): 0.5 – 2.1%

Total sterols must also fall between 3,000 – 7,500 mg/kg, with Beta-sitosterol at 79.0 – 93.4% of total sterols. These markers are virtually impossible to fake with cheap seed oil blends.

Pure vs. Adulterated: What's Actually Different?

Smoke Point: Pure avocado oil reaches 500°F consistently. Adulterated oils often break down below 400°F due to blended seed oils.
Allergen Risk: Adulterated oils may contain undisclosed soy, sesame, or other allergens. Simple Foods is a single-ingredient product — no hidden allergens.
Labeling: Many adulterated oils are mislabeled as "pure" or "extra virgin" and fail Codex composition tests. Simple Foods backs every label with lab testing per Codex CXS 210.
Flavor: Adulterated oils develop off-flavors under heat. Pure avocado oil maintains its neutral, clean taste from cold dressings to high-heat searing.

Origin Matters: Why Michoacán, Mexico

Avocado oil quality starts at the orchard. Mexico is the #1 avocado-producing country globally with ~2.5 million tonnes per year — about 30% of world production. Simple Foods sources exclusively from Michoacán, Mexico, the world's premier avocado-growing region, known for its volcanic soil, altitude, and ideal climate.

Countries that export avocado oil without growing avocados at scale are a traceability red flag. If you can't verify where the avocados came from, you can't verify the oil is pure. Our vertically integrated supply chain — from orchard to bottle — is the only way to guarantee what's on the label matches what's in the bottle.

The Simple Foods Purity Guarantee

100% Pure, Lab-Tested: Every batch is tested against Codex CXS 210-1999 standards.
Vertically Integrated: We control every step from orchard to bottle through Aceites Especiales TH — in operation since 1905.
#2 Avocado Oil Supplier Globally: Scale, reliability, and zero supply disruptions.
Non-GMO Project Verified & Kosher (OU): Third-party verification of our quality claims.
Single Ingredient: Avocado oil. Nothing else. No hidden allergens, no blending, no surprises.

The Fastest-Growing Cooking Oil Category

Avocado oil is the #4 cooking oil segment and the fastest-growing at +26% year-over-year, now holding 7% category share with projections to reach 10% by end of 2026. Meanwhile, competing segments are declining: Soybean -8%, Canola -10.4%, Corn -7.8%. The global avocado oil market exceeds $500M and is accelerating.

Source: SPINS 52-Weeks ending 12/25, MULO.

"2/3 of avocado oils on shelves today fail purity tests — yours doesn't have to. Simple Foods delivers Codex-compliant, 100% pure avocado oil from the #2 global supplier — with the scale, formats, and reliability your business demands."

Shop Simple Foods on Amazon — the avocado oil you can trust.