Rough Draft: not reviewed, sources pending. Not for publication.
Supply Chains, Standards & QualityHow to read a coconut oil label: certifications and testing
A coconut oil label can carry several marks, and each answers a different question. Organic certification covers how the coconuts were grown and handled. Fair trade marks cover how producers are paid and treated. Non-GMO marks cover genetic modification, which is not a common issue for coconut. Third-party testing, when published, is the closest thing to evidence about what is in the specific jar.
Marks and what they cover
| Mark | Covers | Does not cover |
|---|---|---|
| USDA Organic | Farming and handling practices | Nutrition or purity of a given lot |
| Fair Trade / Fair for Life | Producer pay and conditions | Product quality |
| Non-GMO Project | GMO avoidance | Contaminants |
| Certificate of analysis | Lab results for a lot | Anything not tested |
How Coconut Science uses this
Our Top Picks only include products whose certifications we can verify with the certifier and whose maker can provide test results. Where we cannot verify, we say so.
This article is general information, not medical advice.