NAOOA Announces Tougher Quality Measures for 'NAOOA Certified' Olive Oil Seal

Seal now appears on 49% of U.S. branded olive oil sales, up from 85% market coverage in 2024

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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The North American Olive Oil Association (NAOOA) announced enhancements to its 'NAOOA Certified' seal program, which assures consumers that participating olive oils are authentic and not diluted with seed oils. The program now covers 49% of branded olive oil sold in the U.S., up from 85% market coverage in 2024. The new requirements include stricter chemical standards, shorter shelf time, quality tracking, increased testing, mandatory facility audits, and geographic expansion to Canada.

Why it matters

Purity remains the top consumer concern about olive oil, representing 90% of inquiries to the NAOOA. The association's 2024 testing found zero adulteration in 190 samples, establishing a foundation of market integrity. These new enhancements are designed to further strengthen consumer confidence in the olive oil industry.

The details

The NAOOA is lowering the free acidity limit for extra virgin olive oils from 0.8% to 0.5%, matching the FDA standard. It is also limiting the 'best if used by' date to 18 months from bottling, down from the international standard of up to 2 years. The program will establish year-over-year quality monitoring, expand national distribution testing, require third-party facility audits, and extend the program to Canada.

  • The NAOOA announced the enhancements on March 2, 2026.
  • The program featured 99 different products, including many store brands, in 2025.

The players

North American Olive Oil Association (NAOOA)

A trade association representing olive oil producers, importers, and marketers in North America.

Joseph R. Profaci

NAOOA Executive Director.

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What they’re saying

“Nearly half the market has chosen to participate in the only seal program in the U.S. that involves regular random off-the-shelf testing. That validates what we've known for years – transparency builds trust.”

— Joseph R. Profaci, NAOOA Executive Director (EINPresswire)

The takeaway

These enhancements to the NAOOA Certified seal program demonstrate the association's commitment to continuous improvement and ensuring consumer confidence in the olive oil industry. By raising quality standards and expanding transparency, the NAOOA is working to grow household penetration and deliver a better experience for olive oil consumers.