Look at the product label
- For Health : It is important to take note that pure virgin coconut oil is classified under “Traditional Medicine” or “Health Supplement” on the label. There is specification of daily dosage to consume on product label.
- For Culinary (Cooking) Use : Product label does not state “Traditional Medicine” or “Health Supplement” though the description is Virgin Coconut Oil and printed with nutrition information. This is basically just an edible oil without much curative properties.
REMEMBER : Not all coconut oil is extracted in the same method therefore quality differs and giving variant results after usage.
The fact that there is no worldwide certification body that determines or certifies coconut oils as “virgin”, has led some people to use the term and put it on a label if they so choose. The first thing to investigate before buying virgin coconut oil is to determine whether the oil is actually a copra-based coconut oil.
If the oil is extracted using copra at its starting point, it then really is not a true virgin coconut oil, but an industry standard RBD refined coconut oil with a clever label.
True virgin coconut oil is a Traditional Medicine or Health Supplement should NOT BE USED for cooking as the heat will destroy the curative properties.
Organic Virgin Coconut Oil
If you do choose pure virgin coconut oil make sure it has an organic certificate. You may want to verify on the product label that states such information:
- Traditional Medicine or Health Supplement (Pharmaceutical grade)
- Certified organic, pure and unrefined
- Certified organic by USDA standards
- Coconuts of homogenous specie – no hybrid or genetically modified (GMO) varieties
- Cold pressed extraction from organic fresh green coconuts to keep endospermic properties
- Low viscosity (not sticky) almost akin to water
- No additives, no hydrogenation, no preservatives
- Non-fermentation, non-deodorised
- Subject to strict organic oil extraction protocols
- Tested for quality and safety
- Trans-fat free, cholesterol-free