One of the most common questions when buying olive oil is whether it has an expiry date. The answer is no: olive oil is a natural product that does not expire, whatever its type.
KEY FACT
Consuming olive oil after its best before date (18–24 months) poses no health risk, only a possible loss of aroma.
It is one of the few foods that has replaced the expiry date with a best before date. An EVOO is a natural fruit juice, and like any juice, it is best enjoyed as fresh as possible. That is what the best before date indicates: the period during which the EVOO will keep its sensory and physicochemical characteristics intact. After that date, it may lose some of its aromas and become a virgin olive oil (rather than extra virgin), but it remains perfectly safe to eat and to cook with.
What is the difference between a best before date and an expiry date?
The best before date is the date until which the producer guarantees that the product retains its properties, provided it has been stored properly (away from light and heat). The expiry date, on the other hand, indicates that from that day onwards the product is no longer safe to eat and should be thrown away. That is why olive oil does not have one.
What is the best before date for olive oil?
Under Spanish legislation (Royal Decree 1334/1999, Article 11), the best before date must be shown on the label. It is usually between 18 and 24 months, depending on the type of oil, the variety (Picual, thanks to its high antioxidant content, retains its properties for longer) and the packaging. That is why Suerte Alta always packages its oils in tins or dark glass. QvExtra’s SIQEV seal guarantees, through independent sampling, that oils bearing the seal remain EVOO throughout the entire period indicated.
Frequently asked questions about olive oil expiry
No, it does not have an expiry date, but a best before date instead.
No, it has no harmful effects on health; it may simply have lost some of its organoleptic properties.
Between 18 and 24 months, depending on the type of oil, the variety and the packaging.
The period during which the producer guarantees that the EVOO keeps its sensory and physicochemical properties intact, provided it is stored properly.
