Aristoleo Certified™
High Phenolic Extra Virgin Olive Oil (HP-EVOO) Certification Protocol
Our Purpose
Aristoleo Certified™ exists to identify and recognize producers who meet a clearly defined standard of excellence in High Phenolic Extra Virgin Olive Oil (HP-EVOO).
Certification is built on three non-negotiable pillars of transparency:
1. Verified phenolic measurement — Quantified by qNMR or LC-MS/MS analysis from an independent laboratory, in alignment with the ARISTOIL Interreg MED research framework.
2. Organoleptic defect analysis — Independent laboratory analysis for defects, rancidity above all. It is not a full sensory panel.
3. CoolChain™ compliance — Temperature-controlled storage and handling at 12.5–15°C (54–59°F), verified by Aristoleo at certification and by random inspection, virtual or in person.
Together, these criteria show what is in the bottle and how it has been kept.
Scientific Foundation
In 2012, following an opinion from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the European Commission enacted Regulation 432/2012 recognizing that olive oil polyphenols contribute to the protection of blood lipids from oxidative stress.
The claim may be used for oil containing at least 5 mg of active biophenols (derivatives of hydroxytyrosol and tyrosol) per 20 g of oil, equivalent to 250 mg/kg.
Many sources call these compounds polyphenols. Aristoleo uses the term active biophenols, because the health claim concerns specific bioactive derivatives formed during malaxation, commonly called active polar phenols, and not polyphenols as a general class.
Aristoleo Certified™ recognizes oils that respect this scientific threshold and the integrity required to preserve it.
Eligibility
Aristoleo Certified™ is for bottled brands sold at retail: olive oil producers and brand owners, distributors handling HP EVOO, and retailers with verified controlled storage. Certification applies only where handling preserves phenolic integrity.
Certification Process
Application submission
Laboratory results review
CoolChain™ verification
Evaluation and scoring
Certification determination
Renewal with each harvest
CoolChain™ is checked by random inspection, virtual or in person.
What Certification Represents
For Producers:
Independent verification of measured results
Use of the Aristoleo Certified™ badge on product pages
Listing in the Aristoleo Certified Registry, with a direct purchase link to the brand’s website
Year-round promotion by Aristoleo through articles, research and outreach
Participation in Aristoleo educational initiatives
For Consumers:
Confidence in verified phenolic content
Storage and handling that Aristoleo checks
Transparency about how the oil was tested and kept
Origin & Ethos
The first Aristoleo Awards were presented in 2016 in Ancient Olympia, during the Oleocanthal International Society conference at the International Olympic Academy.
Aristoleo Certified™ extends that founding principle:
HP-EVOO stands at the intersection of gastronomy and measurable health science.
Our mission is to protect standards.
About Aristoleo
Aristoleo is dedicated to advancing scientific literacy, transparency, and integrity within the High Phenolic EVOO sector.
