Consumer demand is rising for all things avocado, including oil made from the fruit. Avocado oil is a great source of vitamins, minerals and the type of fats associated with reducing the risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes. But according to new research from food science experts at the University of California, Davis, the vast majority of avocado oil sold in the U.S. is of poor quality, mislabeled or adulterated with other oils.

UC Davis received nearly $1 million (of $8 million awarded nationally) for two grants from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) in the subject area Food Safety and Defense. The overall grant program is to develop tools to detect and eliminate allergens, infections, or other contaminants in foods. NIFA support enables scientists to develop new and innovative technologies for food processing, manufacturing, and packaging that ensure a safe and abundant food supply. The grants are part of NIFA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI).