BPA levels in Lebanese olive oil and storage
What it found
Olive oil stored in plastic had higher levels of bisphenol A (BPA) than oil stored without plastic.
The estimated exposure from eating this oil was a small share of the daily limit set by EFSA.
What they found
Plastic vs non-plastic
Olive oil stored in plastic had higher BPA levels than oil stored without plastic, with average levels of 333 compared to 150 micrograms per kilogram.
Storage time in plastic
Oil kept in plastic for more than 1 year had higher BPA levels than oil stored for less than 1 year, averaging 452 compared to 288 micrograms per kilogram.
Source of oil
Oil from local villagers had higher BPA levels than oil from mills, averaging 376 compared to 228 micrograms per kilogram.
Plastic still linked
After adjusting for other factors, plastic storage was still linked to higher BPA levels.
Exposure estimate
The estimated exposure from olive oil was 1.38% of the EFSA tolerable daily intake.
What the authors conclude
“The estimated exposure was 1.38% of the EFSA tolerable daily intake, hence there are no concerns about potential health risks from olive oil consumption.”
Also in their conclusions
- They state that this is the first report on BPA levels in Mediterranean olive oil.
- They conclude that the estimated exposure is 1.38% of the EFSA tolerable daily intake, hence there are no concerns about potential health risks from olive oil consumption.
How it was done
BPA is used in packaging and can move into packaged food and drinks, leading to human exposure. Animal studies have reported tumours and hormone changes linked to BPA.
They collected 27 olive oil samples from mills and local villagers in the Hasbaya District of Lebanon, a major olive oil region. They also gathered information on how the oil was stored, then extracted and measured BPA using HPLC.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This study measured BPA levels in olive oil samples and estimated exposure. It did not follow people over time to see if any health effects occur.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- American University of Beirut, Lebanon
The paper
- Title
- Bisphenol A exposure assessment from olive oil consumption
- Type
- Study
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Abou Omar TF, Sukhn C, Fares SA, Abiad MG, Habib RR, Dhaini HR (2017). Bisphenol A exposure assessment from olive oil consumption. Environmental monitoring and assessment. doi:10.1007/s10661-017-6048-6PubMed 28623573DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error