Nutiva Organic Virgin Coconut Oil

One-ingredient, cold-pressed coconut oil in a glass jar, the cheapest fat we list per ounce. A lab found 387 ppb of phthalates, mid-range for coconut oil. It is about 93% saturated fat and for medium heat only.

Best for Bakers and cooks who want coconut flavor and a stable fat for medium heat, used in small amounts, and who buy the glass jar.

Our rating: Good (4.2 of 5)
Price range: Budget
Verified marks: USDA Organic (QAI; scope lists coconut oil)
Size: 14 oz or 23 oz glass jar; 15, 29 and 54 oz plastic (PET) jars; 1 gallon pail
Made in: Cold-pressed from coconuts grown in Southeast Asia (Nutiva’s page); the Philippines on label copy at Vitacost

approx. $10.49 for a 14 oz glass jar at Nutiva, which was sold out on 2026-10-23; $12.43 at Vitacost

See it on Nutiva’s site → (opens in a new tab)

We are not affiliated with Nutiva. This link goes to the maker’s own page, with no tracking code. How we're funded.

Also sold at Vitacost ($12.43 for the 14 fl oz glass jar (about $0.89 an ounce)), iHerb ($12.43 for the 14 fl oz jar) .

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How we evaluated it

How it scores Our rating, metric by metric Good, 4.2 of 5

Ingredients & processing 35% of the rating 5 of 5

One ingredient, cold-pressed and unrefined, made without hexane or bleaching, with nothing added.
Independent testing 25% of the rating 3 of 5

An independent lab found 387 ppb of phthalates, mid-range for coconut oil. The organic certificate is paid, and no metals or pesticide results are published.
Packaging 15% of the rating 4 of 5

Glass jar in the 14 and 23 oz sizes; the larger sizes are plastic. Jar color and lid material are not stated.
Trust 10% of the rating 3 of 5

A 2016 suit over its health claims ended in a dismissal in 2018, and older recalls and a lead notice concern other products. Nothing open for the oil.
Value 15% of the rating 5 of 5

About $0.89 an ounce for the 14 oz glass jar at Vitacost ($0.75 at Nutiva’s sold-out list price), the cheapest fat here.

The rating, 4.2 of 5, is the weighted average of these scores. See how we rank cooking oils & fats and our standard.

Where to buy Stores and the prices we saw 2 stores

Vitacost (opens in a new tab) approx. $12.43 for the 14 fl oz glass jar (about $0.89 an ounce). In stock on 2026-10-23, with a best-by date of 08/12/2028. Vitacost says it buys from brands or authorized distributors. Nutiva’s own site listed every size as sold out that day. The 15 oz and larger sizes are plastic. Amazon sold only those, and Walmart listed the 14 fl oz jar only as resellers’ multipacks at about $18 to $21 a jar, so Vitacost and iHerb are the two stores we confirmed for a single glass jar.
iHerb (opens in a new tab) approx. $12.43 for the 14 fl oz jar. In stock on 2026-11-03, with a best-by date of 08/2028 and a Subscribe & Save price of $11.81. The same price as Vitacost. iHerb also lists a 15 fl oz size at $10.85, which Nutiva sells in a plastic jar, not the 14 fl oz glass one.

Prices as we saw them on October 23, 2026. They change often. These links carry no tracking code and earn us nothing.

What’s in it Every ingredient, in label order 1 ingredient

Organic unrefined cold-pressed virgin coconut oil

Who tested it What each test found, and who paid for it 2 tests

Independent Mamavation (EPA-certified lab, not named; the site earns affiliate income) January 2025

Tested one sample for phthalates. Total phthalates were 387 ppb, just under the 400 ppb line for its best coconut-oil tier. Twelve coconut oils were tested, from 126 ppb (Dr. Bronner’s) to 1,506 ppb. One sample per brand. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Paid certification USDA organic certification (QAI) October 2026

Nutiva LLC is certified for handling since 2002, with coconut oil in scope. That certifies how it is grown and handled, not a lab test of each jar. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)

Who paid, and why it matters

Independent The tester took no money from the maker for it: a consumer group, a journalist, a university or a regulator.
Paid certification An outside lab or certifier tested or listed it, and the maker paid for that.
Maker’s own test A lab report or certificate of analysis the maker commissioned and published.

A certification is a floor, not a verdict: it checks what its program checks and nothing else. We weigh tests by someone with no stake in the result most.

What people ask Worries raised online and elsewhere, and what we found 4 questions

Is coconut oil good for you?: Not as an everyday fat. A 2020 meta-analysis of 16 trials (opens in a new tab) found coconut oil raised LDL cholesterol by about 10 mg/dL and HDL by 4 mg/dL compared with non-tropical vegetable oils. Our coconut oil guide treats it as an occasional baking fat.
Does it contain phthalates?: A little. Mamavation’s lab found 387 ppb, which its report ranks among its better coconut oils but well above the best (126 ppb). The report notes that organic certification does not prohibit phthalates in manufacturing.
Has Nutiva been sued or had recalls?: Yes, but not for the oil’s safety. In Jones v. Nutiva (2016) plaintiffs said its coconut oils were marketed as healthy despite their saturated fat. The court docket (opens in a new tab) shows a notice of settlement in September 2018 and a dismissal in December 2018, with no terms posted. FDA recalls in 2015 (Salmonella in coconut treats) and 2017 (peanut in a protein shake), and a 2014 Prop 65 lead notice for supplements, concern other products.
Is it cold-pressed and unrefined, and where do the coconuts come from?: Nutiva says cold-pressed, unrefined, and made without hexane, deodorizing or bleaching, from coconuts in Southeast Asia. We found no process document or named farm, so these rest on the maker.

Why we chose it What put it on our list 4 points

The ingredient list is one line: organic unrefined cold-pressed virgin coconut oil. Nutiva says it is made without hexane, deodorizing, bleaching or refining.
The USDA Organic Integrity Database lists Nutiva LLC of Grand Junction, Colorado as certified by QAI since 04/29/2002, with coconut oil, including an unrefined virgin grade, in its handling scope.
Mamavation’s lab found 387 ppb of total phthalates in a sample, in the lower half of the 12 coconut oils it tested (126 to 1,506 ppb).
The label gives the fat split: per tablespoon, 14 g of fat, of which 13 g saturated and 0 g polyunsaturated, so it has almost no omega-6. The 14 oz and 23 oz sizes come in glass. Nutiva’s list prices of $10.49 and $14.99 work out to about $0.75 and $0.65 an ounce, but both were sold out on 23 October; Vitacost sells the 14 oz at about $0.89.

Trade-offs What to weigh before you buy 4 points

Almost all of the fat is saturated. Our coconut oil guide says coconut oil raises LDL cholesterol more than olive, safflower or sunflower oil, and it should not be treated as heart-healthy. Extra virgin olive oil is better supported for everyday cooking.
Only the 14 oz and 23 oz sizes are glass. The 15, 29 and 54 oz sizes are PET plastic, and the price here is for the glass jar. We did not confirm the jar’s color; the maker says to keep it out of direct sunlight.
Nutiva rates virgin coconut oil for medium heat, up to 350°F. For higher heat, our high-heat guide points to other fats.
The organic certificate covers how it is grown and handled, not a lab test of each jar. We found no heavy metal or pesticide results. The source is a region, not a farm or mill.

What to know Details worth knowing first

Coconut oil is the most saturated fat in this category, and our coconut oil guide says plainly that it raises LDL cholesterol and should not be treated as heart-healthy. If you use it, it makes sense for baking and medium-heat cooking, in small amounts, with olive oil as the everyday fat.

Within that limit, Nutiva’s virgin oil is a simple product. It is one ingredient, cold-pressed and unrefined, in a glass jar, at a low price. The USDA lists Nutiva as certified organic, which tells you how the coconuts are grown and handled. An independent lab also found a middling 387 ppb of phthalates in one sample, so the oil is not free of plasticizers.

We would not choose coconut oil for high heat. Virgin coconut oil’s smoke point is about 350°F, and our guide to which oils are safe for high-heat cooking covers better options.

What we checked Each claim, and how sure we are of it 5 checks

How Nutiva Organic Virgin Coconut Oil measures up against our cooking oils & fats criteria
What we checked	What we found
Purity you can check Verified	Nutiva LLC is certified organic in the USDA Organic Integrity Database, with coconut oil in its handling scope. An independent lab found 387 ppb total phthalates. Neither is a test of metals or pesticides in each jar.
Fat profile stated Maker’s claim	Label: 14 g fat, 13 g saturated, 0.5 g monounsaturated, 0 g polyunsaturated and 0 g trans per tablespoon.
Made without solvents Maker’s claim	Cold-pressed and unrefined, and “processed without hexane”, per the maker.
Packaging that blocks light, with a date Maker’s claim	Glass jar in the 14 oz and 23 oz sizes; color not confirmed. Vitacost shows a best-by date.
A traceable source Maker’s claim	Southeast Asia on Nutiva’s page, or the Philippines on label copy at Vitacost. No farm or mill is named.

What the labels mean

Verified We opened an independent record that confirms it: a certifier’s listing, a regulator’s list or a lab report. It is linked under Sources.
Maker’s claim The maker says so on its own page or label. We read it but found no independent record.
Not verified We looked and could not confirm it, or the maker does not say. Treat it as unknown.

Sources Where our facts come from 8 sources

Nutiva Organic Virgin Coconut Oil product page. Maker’s page. Glass jars $10.49 (14 oz) and $14.99 (23 oz) on 2026-10-23, shown as sold out. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)
USDA Organic Integrity Database: Nutiva LLC. Certifier or regulator listing. Certified handling operation, QAI, effective 04/29/2002. The scope lists coconut oil, including a virgin grade and “Coconut Unrefined Virgin” as an ingredient. Profile updated 10/22/2026; re-read in a browser on 2026-10-23. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Mamavation: Cooking oils tested for phthalates (2025). Test report. EPA-certified lab, one sample per brand. The site earns affiliate income, including from Nutiva links. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Neelakantan et al. (2020), Circulation: effect of coconut oil on cardiovascular risk factors (PMID 31928080). Independent source. Meta-analysis of 16 clinical trials. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Jones v. Nutiva, Inc., N.D. Cal. 4:16-cv-00711 (CourtListener docket). Independent source. Filed 2016; notice of settlement 20 Sep 2018; stipulated dismissal without prejudice 4 Dec 2018. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)
California Attorney General: Prop 65 60-day notice search. Certifier or regulator listing. Searched by alleged violator on 23 Oct 2026. One notice (2014-00847, lead, dietary supplements); none for the coconut oil. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)
openFDA food enforcement reports. Certifier or regulator listing. Four reports, for coconut treats (2015) and protein shakes (2017). None for coconut oil. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Vitacost listing with label, nutrition facts and best-by date. Independent source. $12.43 for 14 fl oz on 2026-10-23. Label copy says the oil is grown and cold-pressed in the Philippines. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)

Alternatives Other options to compare 2 options

Marianne’s Harvest Classic Avocado Oil For high heat, with a 500°F smoke point and mostly monounsaturated fat, and an independent purity test. About $17 for 500 mL.
Organic Valley Organic Ghee A dairy fat for sautéing and roasting at a moderate price. Also mostly saturated.

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How we evaluated it

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