Lisbon Manifesto calls for olive oil to be treated as a public health resource

At the second Olive Oil World Congress in Lisbon, growers, researchers, and medical professionals produced the ‘Lisbon Manifesto’. Endorsed by over 60 organizations across 18 countries, the document urges governments to treat extra virgin olive oil as a vital public health resource.

The manifesto requests that national dietary guidelines include quantified intake recommendations, that olive oil be provided in school canteens and hospital kitchens, and that polyphenol content be clearly labeled on bottles. Organizers intend to present the text to the World Health Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization, and the Pan American Health Organization to seek recognition of extra virgin olive oil as a functional food of global public health importance.

Scientific backing for these claims includes the PREDIMED clinical trial, which found that participants consuming extra virgin olive oil had 31 percent fewer cardiovascular events compared to those on a low-fat diet. Researchers emphasize that the health benefits, particularly regarding heart health and cholesterol, are closely linked to the oil's polyphenol content.