Olive Oil Awards Don't Guarantee Shelf Quality Months Later

CHOICE's July 2026 taste test reveals a supply-chain vulnerability: extra virgin olive oils certified at harvest often deteriorate during storage and transit, leaving retail shelves stocked with oils that no longer meet their award standard. Sensory defects—rancidity, mustiness, fermentation notes—emerge after certification and aren't caught by best-before dates alone. Independent testing at point-of-purchase, not harvest, captures actual quality consumers encounter.