8 Of The Biggest Cooking Oil Recalls Ever
Cooking oil is a staple in kitchens worldwide, but sometimes these products face serious safety issues. When contamination, mislabeling, or other problems occur, manufacturers must pull these oils from store shelves to protect consumers.
These recalls can impact millions of households and cost companies millions of dollars. Here are eight of the biggest cooking oil recalls that shook the food industry.
1. Moldy Coconut Oil Crisis (2015)
Fuzzy patches of mold turned a health food nightmare when Natural Grocers discovered contamination in their Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil. Nearly 15,000 pounds of product were pulled from shelves after high mold levels were detected in glass jars.
The FDA classified it as a Class II recall, indicating moderate health risks. Potential symptoms included nausea, diarrhea, and breathing difficulties, though thankfully no illnesses were reported. The incident highlighted how even organic products aren’t immune to safety issues.
2. The Rubino Olive Oil Scandal (1993)
Consumers were duped when Rubino U.S.A. falsely labeled their products as 100% pure olive oil. Laboratory tests revealed many bottles contained cheaper canola oil or were diluted with lower-grade oils.
Over 200,000 products were yanked from shelves nationwide. While no one got sick, the scandal seriously damaged trust in olive oil purity and authenticity claims.
The company faced long-lasting reputation damage and stricter industry scrutiny followed.
3. Pesticide-Tainted Olive Oil Scare (2016)
Forbidden chemicals lurked in bottles of Bertolli and Carapelli olive oils when trace amounts of pesticides were detected in 2016. The culprits, Tebuconazole and Trifloxystrobin, are prohibited in U.S. food products.
Deoleo USA launched their second major recall in two years, pulling more Extra Light Tasting and Classico Pure Olive Oil from shelves. The back-to-back recalls damaged consumer confidence in the brands.
Adding insult to injury, the company later faced a $7 million settlement for mislabeling in 2018.
4. Salmonella in Sesame Oil (2019)
Dangerous bacteria crashed the party when Michigan agriculture officials discovered Salmonella in Alqosh Sesame Oil. Mediterranean Food Inc. scrambled to recall 1,680 pounds of potentially contaminated product.
The FDA classified it as a Class I recall—their most serious category. Salmonella can cause fever, diarrhea, and even the worse in vulnerable populations.
Fortunately, no illnesses were reported, but the incident served as a stark reminder that even shelf-stable oils aren’t immune to bacterial contamination.
5. Shattered Glass in Avocado Oil (2024)
Trendy health food turned hazardous when Primal Kitchen discovered their avocado oil bottles were prone to breakage. The company recalled 2,060 cases of 750mL bottles sold throughout the eastern U.S., California, and online stores.
Glass shards posed serious injury risks to unsuspecting consumers. Products with “Best When Used By” dates of August 19-21, 2025 were affected.
The company’s transparent communication during the crisis helped limit brand damage, showing how proper recall management matters.
6. Mazola’s Chemical Contamination (1987)
Kitchen staples turned toxic when Unilever’s Mazola Corn Oil became contaminated with industrial solvent 1,1,1-trichloroethane. The massive recall pulled over one million gallons—roughly eight million pounds—of product from American shelves.
No illnesses were reported, but the potential health risks were serious. The incident stands as one of the largest cooking oil recalls ever documented.
It became a landmark case study in food safety, prompting stricter manufacturing protocols for vegetable oils across the industry.
7. Mineral Oil Contamination Crisis (2001)
Food processing took a hit when ADM’s bulk soybean oil became tainted with inedible mineral oil during transport. The contamination affected an estimated two million pounds of product used in countless processed foods.
The culprit? A shared tanker that previously carried mineral oil wasn’t properly cleaned. This single error rippled through the food supply chain, affecting multiple brands and products.
The incident demonstrated how bulk ingredient contamination can multiply into widespread recalls across different food categories.
8. Hazelnut-Adulterated Olive Oil (1998)
Premium prices, budget ingredients! Olio Carli faced an international scandal when their supposedly pure olive oil was found adulterated with cheaper hazelnut oil. Approximately 500,000 pounds of product were recalled across the U.S. and Canada.
Beyond simple fraud, the undeclared hazelnut oil posed serious risks to those with tree nut allergies. The Italian supplier was responsible for damaging Olio Carli’s reputation for years.
This high-profile case became a turning point for olive oil authentication methods and stricter industry standards to prevent similar fraudulent practices.