Although the research on the olive oil/heart health connection is not conclusive, the FDA decided to allow the following qualified health claim:

"Limited and not conclusive scientific evidence suggests that eating about 2 tablespoons (23 grams) of olive oil daily may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease due to the monounsaturated fat in olive oil. To achieve this possible benefit, olive oil is to replace a similar amount of saturated fat and not increase the total number of calories you eat in a day. One serving of this product [Name of food] contains [x] grams of olive oil."

This claim may be used on the labels of olive oil and certain foods that contain olive oil.

Informed Decisions

"With this claim, consumers can make more informed decisions about maintaining healthy dietary practices," said Dr. Lester M. Crawford, Acting FDA Commissioner. "Since CHD is the number one killer of both men and women in the U.S., it is a public health priority to make sure that consumers have accurate and useful information on reducing their risk."

Olive oil is a significant component of the Mediterranean diet, which has attracted increased interest in recent years due to its seemingly healthful attributes.

But information on the diet has been available for a long time. As far back as the 1960s, notes the Australian govenment Web site Better Health Channel, researchers observed that people living in Greece had more longevity than people living in Japan. Comparing the dietary practices in the two countries, scientists found that both populations consumed a lot of salt, but the Greeks ate more fat, as well as more plant-based foods.

Australian Government Concurs

The increased longevity was found to be due mainly to much lower rates of stroke and stomach cancer among the Greeks, as well as low rates of heart disease and other cancers, according to the Better Health Channel. "Researchers also noticed that people living in countries around the Mediterranean had a lower incidence of heart disease, despite their high intake of monounsaturated fats, such as olive oil," states a fact sheet on the site. "This led to investigations into what is known as 'the Mediterranean diet,' of which olive oil is a major part."

Based on recent studies, olive oil can lower CHD risk by reducing blood cholesterol levels, says the Australian government site. "According to one study, a person's risk of fatal heart attack is halved in just two to four years, once they switch to 'the Mediterranean diet,' which includes using olive oil as the main dietary fat, increasing vegetable intake and limiting meat and dairy foods. Research has also found that olive oil may influence body fat distribution, with less fat stored around the stomach."