Overview
Olive oil is covered in the Heavy Metal Index through studies and reviews of metal occurrence, production, and packaging. For the compiled discussion of findings and their limitations, see Olive oil: ingredient evidence. This product page brings together the associated source inventory and product-specific evidence summaries.
Literature scope
The source inventory below includes published research on olive oil and broader edible-oil studies. The olive-oil ingredient page synthesizes the existing coverage, including findings by source and region, processing effects, and packaging. Some product-specific evidence tables on this page remain incomplete. An unpopulated table entry describes a gap in that table, not an absence of olive-oil coverage in the Index.
Reading guide
Legal, regulatory and retailer teams can use the cited measurements, applicable limits and study limitations to assess the evidence for this category.
Quality teams can examine product form, measurement basis and sources of variation. Journalists and researchers can follow each reference to the original findings and methods.
Related tools and pages: heavymetalcertified.com · methodology
Evidence summary
Evidence summary
The table below summarizes what the peer-reviewed and government literature cited on this page reports for heavy-metal concentrations in Olive oil. Values are pulled directly from cited sources without re-aggregation. This page publishes literature evidence only, not certification thresholds.
Methodology rules for speciation, basis preservation, non-detect handling, and source pooling are stated in the Methodology section above and apply to every row below.
| Analyte | Subcategory | Reported concentration range | Detection rate | Applicable regulatory cap | Sources | Confidence | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pb | Olive oil (no contributing evidence loaded) | No concentration data loaded for this analyte | Sample-level detection rate not reported | 100 ppb | 0 | data gap | Basis not reported |
| Cd | Olive oil (no contributing evidence loaded) | No concentration data loaded for this analyte | Sample-level detection rate not reported | No applicable cap loaded | 0 | data gap | Basis not reported |
| tAs | Olive oil (no contributing evidence loaded) | No concentration data loaded for this analyte | Sample-level detection rate not reported | No applicable cap loaded | 0 | data gap | Basis not reported |
| Ni | Olive oil (no contributing evidence loaded) | No concentration data loaded for this analyte | Sample-level detection rate not reported | No applicable cap loaded | 0 | data gap | Basis not reported |
Source Evidence Inventory
The source inventory below lists the source records associated with this product. Their findings are discussed in the olive-oil ingredient synthesis; the product-specific table above has not yet incorporated that full coverage.
Supporting evidence and scope
Broader-scope sources for this row will be listed here when they are catalogued.
Federal/Regulatory Limits vs Field Findings
Regulatory limits for this row will be listed here once they are catalogued.
Controls and mitigation
Practical interventions to reduce heavy-metal load in this row, ordered by impact magnitude. Each lever names the magnitude of the effect with a cited source; cross-links to dedicated Mitigation pages where they exist.
- Sourcing levers — Not yet catalogued.
- Agronomic levers — Not yet catalogued. (See Agronomic mitigation for general agronomic mitigation context.)
- Processing levers — Not yet catalogued. (See Processing mitigation.)
- Formulation levers — Not yet catalogued. (See Formulation mitigation.)
- Testing and QC levers — Not yet catalogued. (See Testing and quality-control mitigation when published.)
- Packaging and storage levers — Not yet catalogued. (See Packaging and storage mitigation when published.)
How standards math uses this page
HMT&C certification thresholds for this row are developed under the certification program at heavymetalcertified.com, not on this page. The row-standard for this row is an aggregate computed from the contributing source pool in the row’s native finished-product basis; it is not a per-source decoration of any single value cited on this page. This public page reports literature evidence only.
Historical recalls and enforcement
Public regulatory events for this row, such as recalls and import alerts, will be listed here as they are catalogued.
Methodology
This page reports what the cited sources say about heavy-metal concentrations in olive oil. Speciation is non-substitutable (iAs vs tAs, MeHg vs tHg, Cr-VI vs total Cr). Basis is preserved (finished-product as sold unless the source specifies otherwise; see each row for the basis label). Non-detect handling follows each source’s reporting convention. Pooling is avoided across LOD/LOQ, period, geography, and analytical-basis differences. HMT&C certification thresholds for products in this row are developed under the certification program at heavymetalcertified.com, not on this page; this public page reports literature evidence only.
The applicable regulatory jurisdictions for this row are: FDA, EU, Codex.
Sources
The source inventory below links the studies and reviews already associated with this product page.
Sources
Source records associated with this topic. Inclusion does not establish that every finding applies to this product or ingredient. References above identify works cited in the text.
| # | Citation | Year | Type | Used on this page for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charfi et al. 2026. Food safety in the production of olive oils. Presence of heavy metals and phthalic acid esters using different types of packaging, Journal of Food Science and Technology | 2026 | Peer-reviewed | ES Pb, Cd, tAs, Ni, Cr, Al, Cu, Zn, Fe, Sb, Mn, Mg occurrence in Commercial Spanish olive oil samples (extra virgin, virgin, olive oil, olive pomace oil) purchased from the Spanish market… (n=18) |
| 2 | Abedi et al. 2025. Comparison Between Emerging and Conventional Methods for Edible Oils Bleaching, Food Science & Nutrition | 2025 | Peer-reviewed | Pb, Cd, Ni, Cr, Co, Al, Cu, Fe occurrence in Narrative review of published literature on industrial and emerging bleaching technologies for edible vegetable oils. No primary measurements;… |
| 3 | Matei et al. 2025. Physicochemical Properties, Trace Elements, and Health Risk Assessment of Edible Vegetable Oils Consumed in Romania, Applied Sciences | 2025 | Peer-reviewed | RO Pb, Cd, Cu, Cr, Co, Mn, Ni occurrence in 24 edible vegetable oil samples (three samples each of eight oil types: sunflower, grapeseed, extra virgin olive, organic… (n=24) |
| 4 | Ntigoroku et al. 2025. Physicochemical Properties, Heavy Metals levels and Health Risk Assessment of selected Edible Oils purchased from major markets in Delta State, Nigeria, Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management | 2025 | Peer-reviewed | NG Cd, Cr, Pb, Cu occurrence in Twenty edible vegetable oil samples purchased from major markets in Delta State, Nigeria, grouped as sunflower oil, soybean… (n=20) |
| 5 | Sallam et al. 2025. Traditional vs. Modern Olive Oil Extraction in Libya: A Comparative Study of Fatty Acids and Heavy Metal Contamination, The North African Journal of Scientific Publishing (NAJSP) | 2025 | Peer-reviewed | LY Pb, Cd, tAs, tHg occurrence in Olive oil and olive mill wastewater (OMWW) collected from one traditional (manual/mechanical pressing, no temperature control or centrifugation)… (n=12) |
| 6 | S-T et al. 2024. Determination, distribution, and health risk assessment of 12 heavy metals in various edible oils in Taiwan, JSFA Reports | 2024 | Peer-reviewed | TW tAs, Pb, Cd, Ni, V, Cr, Co, Cu, Fe, Zn, Mn, Ba occurrence in 12 types of refined commercial edible oils (n=25 samples) and 12 types of unrefined (cold-pressed/virgin) commercial edible oils… (n=50) |
| 7 | Vella et al. 2024. Investigation on the Concentration of Heavy Metals found in Local Olives and Waste Material through AAS, MCAST Journal of Applied Research & Practice, Vol. 8, Issue 2 | 2024 | Peer-reviewed | MT Cd, Ni, Fe, Cu, Co, Zn occurrence in Four olive cultivars (Carolea, Cipressina, Leccino, Bidni) from a single Maltese cultivator, with each cultivar sampled across four… (n=4) |
| 8 | Bodur et al. 2023. Spray assisted preconcentration method combined with HPLC - Continuous flow hydride generation - FAAS for inorganic arsenic speciation in olive oil samples, Journal of Food Composition and Analysis | 2023 | Peer-reviewed | TR iAs occurrence in Two olive oil samples supplied from the local market in Istanbul, Turkiye; real-sample results were non-detect for arsenite/arsenate… (n=2) |
| 9 | González-Torres et al. 2023. Comparative Study of the Presence of Heavy Metals in Edible Vegetable Oils, Applied Sciences | 2023 | Peer-reviewed | ES/EU/CN Pb, Cd, Cu, Fe, Ni, Sb occurrence in Systematic literature review: 35 vegetable oil types from 24 countries; studies published 2015–2022; n=64 studies synthesized (n=64) |
| 10 | Nazari et al. 2023. Impacts of Heavy Metals in Seed Crops and Oil Seed on Human Health: A Threat to Food Safety — Review, Carpathian Journal of Food Science and Technology, 15(2), 106-124 | 2023 | Review | global/EU/IR Pb, Cd, iAs, tAs, tHg, MeHg, Ni, Cr, Cr-VI occurrence in Narrative literature review of published studies on heavy metal occurrence in oilseeds (sunflower, pumpkin, sesame, rape, mustard, linseed,… |
| 11 | Scutarasu et al. 2023. Heavy Metals in Foods and Beverages: Global Situation, Health Risks and Reduction Methods, Foods | 2023 | Peer-reviewed | IR/CN/GR Pb, Cd, tAs, Ni, Cr, tHg, Al, Cu, Zn occurrence in Narrative literature review covering heavy metals in fruits and vegetables, milk and dairy, meat, edible oils, wine, and… |
| 12 | Kabaran et al. 2020. Is there any potential health risk of heavy metals through dietary intake of olive oil that produced in Morphou, Cyprus, Progress in Nutrition | 2020 | Peer-reviewed | CY Pb, Cd, tAs, Ni, Cr, Co, Fe, Cu, Zn occurrence in 27 natural olive oil samples from Morphou and Lefka districts, Northern Cyprus (single harvest); 500 adults aged 30–49… (n=27) |
| 13 | Liang et al. 2019. Effects of Zinc and Copper Stress on Antioxidant System of Olive Leaves, IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science | 2019 | Peer-reviewed | CN Cu, Zn occurrence in Annual Olea europaea L. cv. ‘Foao’ cutting seedlings (plant height ~55-65 cm, soil weight ~3 kg per pot)… (n=50) |
| 14 | Luka et al. 2019. Investigation of trace metals in different varieties of olive oils from northern Cyprus and their variation in accumulation using ICP-MS and multivariate techniques, Environmental Earth Sciences | 2019 | Peer-reviewed | CY Cu, Cd, Pb, Cr, tAs, Ni occurrence in Fifteen olive-oil observations from northern Cyprus, including oils from olives harvested from the ground, olives harvested directly from… (n=15) |
| 15 | Ziarati et al. 2019. Determination of Toxic Metals Content in Iranian and Italian Flavoured Olive Oil, Acta Technologica Agriculturae | 2019 | Peer-reviewed | IR/IT Pb, Cd, Ni, tAs occurrence in Commercial olive oil samples (non-flavoured and flavoured: fungi, aroma vegetables, pepper) purchased from Lombardy, Italy and Tehran, Iran… (n=480) |
| 16 | Llorent-Martínez et al. 2014. Quantitation of Metals During the Extraction of Virgin Olive Oil from Olives Using ICP-MS after Microwave-assisted Acid Digestion, Journal of the American Oil Chemists’ Society | 2014 | Peer-reviewed | ES/EU Al, V, Cr, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, tAs, Cd, Sb, Pb occurrence in Picual, Hojiblanca, and Arbequina olive fruits collected January 2012/13 from an irrigated orchard in Jaén (Andalusia), Spain; analyzed… |
| 17 | Acar 2012. Evaluation of cadmium, lead, copper, iron and zinc in Turkish dietary vegetable oils and olives using electrothermal and flame atomic absorption spectrometry, Grasas y Aceites | 2012 | Peer-reviewed | TR Pb, Cd, Cu, Fe, Zn occurrence in 53 vegetable oil samples (8 soybean, 12 sunflower, 8 flower-seed, 8 nut, 8 corn, 9 olive) and 70… (n=123) |
| 18 | Ashraf 2012. Levels of Selected Heavy Metals in Varieties of Vegetable Oils Consumed in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Health Risk Assessment of Local Population, Asian Journal of Chemistry (Uncorrected Proof) | 2012 | Peer-reviewed | SA Pb, Cd, tAs, Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn occurrence in 161 edible vegetable oil samples (32 corn, 28 sunflower, 21 soybean, 19 sesame, 17 rapeseed, 17 peanut, 27… (n=161) |
| 19 | Zhu et al. 2011. Health risk assessment of eight heavy metals in nine varieties of edible vegetable oils consumed in China, Food and Chemical Toxicology | 2011 | Peer-reviewed | CN Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn, Cd, Ni, Pb, tAs occurrence in 109 commercial edible vegetable oil samples purchased from Chinese supermarkets during 2009-2010: 13 soybean, 12 corn, 14 peanut,… (n=109) |
| 20 | La et al. 2010. Classification of Sicilian Olive Oils According to Heavy Metal and Selenium Levels Using Canonical Discriminant Analysis (CDA), Olives and Olive Oil in Health and Disease Prevention (Elsevier, ISBN 978-0-12-374420-3), Chapter 18, pp. 155–163 | 2010 | Book chapter | IT Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn, Se occurrence in 49 virgin olive oil samples from three Sicilian PDO/PGI cultivars (Nocellara del Belice n=18; Biancolilla n=18; Cerasuola n=13)… (n=49) |
| 21 | Pehlivan et al. 2008. Determination of some inorganic metals in edible vegetable oils by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES), Grasas y Aceites | 2008 | Peer-reviewed | TR Pb, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Co, Cr, Ni, Zn occurrence in 17 edible vegetable oil samples from Turkish food markets: soybean, hazelnut, almond, natural olive, riviera olive (3 types),… (n=17) |
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