Polish agri-food quality inspection on vegetable oils: irregularities at 44.3% of 88 entities checked, physico-chemical parameters rejected in 18.5% of lots, stigmastadienes in 3 lots of “cold-pressed” oils
On 17 September 2026 Poland’s Agricultural and Food Quality Inspection (IJHARS) published the results of checks on vegetable oils other than olive oil, with a focus on cold-pressed oils. 88 producers and shops were checked; sensory characteristics raised no objections, but laboratory tests challenged the declared fatty acid composition.
- Irregularities were found at 44.3% of the entities checked. In 18.5% of lots physico-chemical characteristics were rejected — mainly a content of mono-unsaturated, polyunsaturated or saturated fatty acids that did not match the nutrition declaration (overstated or understated); in several lots omega-3, omega-6 and omega-9 levels differed from the label values.
- In 3 lots of oils declared as cold-pressed, stigmastadienes were detected — compounds formed under high temperature. According to IJHARS, cold-pressed oil is produced without heating and without refining, while refining includes degumming, deacidification, bleaching and deodorisation.
- Labelling was incorrect in 36.5% of lots: e.g. claims such as “100% natural” or “safe” for properties shared by all similar products, no information on the processing (“cold-pressed”, “refined”), omitted mandatory items (protein, salt) or non-permitted items (omega-3, omega-6) in the nutrition declaration, linseed oil without a note that it is for cold use only, “GMO-free” without the graphic sign, false origin and sale after the best-before date. Sanctions were applied.
- Under Article 30(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 the mandatory nutrition declaration may be supplemented with mono-unsaturates and polyunsaturates; Annex I defines them as fatty acids with one cis double bond and with two or more cis, cis-methylene-interrupted double bonds. IJHARS established the discrepancies by physico-chemical tests.
Source: IJHARS — ABC olejów roślinnych (17.09.2026), sekcja „Wyniki kontroli IJHARS”