Do packaging materials impact the olive oil quality?

Packaging materials impact the quality of food products, including olive oil.

The basic requirements of a packaging material used for olive oil are:

1. The packaging material should be effective in providing barrier protection from elements such as light, air, and heat that deteriorate quality.
2. The packaging material must be chemically inert so that no chemical from the packaging material migrates to the oil.

Several scientific studies have shown that plastic is not a good packaging material.

• Plastic is ineffective in protecting the oil from heat and light.
• At the same time, several harmful chemicals, such as phthalates and other plasticizers, microplastics, and bisphenol A, can leach from plastic into the oil.

Dark glass bottles or tin or ceramic bottles, on the other hand, are effective barrier protectors and chemically inert to the oil.