Kofinas Olive Oil Recall: What Consumers Must Know

Last updated: September 2, 2026

Quick Answer: LMSI LLC/Kofinas Olive Oil issued a voluntary recall of its Garlic Mediterranean Infused Extra Virgin Olive Oil in late August 2026 because the product was made using a garlic essential oil not approved for culinary use. The recall covers three bottle sizes sold at two Cincinnati retail locations and online. No illnesses have been reported, but consumers should stop using the product and contact the company for a full refund.

Key Takeaways

The Kofinas Olive Oil recall was announced August 29-31, 2026, by LMSI LLC Kofinas Olive Oil as a voluntary action.
The specific reason: the garlic Mediterranean infused extra virgin olive oil was made using a garlic essential oil not approved for culinary use.
Affected sizes are 500 ml, 250 ml, and 100 ml glass bottles of the garlic-infused product only.
Sales ran from August 31, 2025, through August 27, 2026, at Montgomery Store & Infusion Kitchen in Cincinnati, Findlay Market in Cincinnati, and online.
The FDA has confirmed no illness reports tied to this recall as of publication.
Consumers should not use the recalled oil and can call 513-325-5502 or 513-981-1412 for a full refund.
No other Kofinas olive oil products, including other infused olive oil varieties, balsamic vinegars, or gift sets, are part of this recall.

What Was the Kofinas Olive Oil Recall About?

The Kofinas Olive Oil recall centers on a single product: the Garlic Mediterranean Infused Extra Virgin Olive Oil, which was found to contain a garlic essential oil not approved for culinary use. LMSI LLC Kofinas Olive Oil voluntarily initiated the recall after determining that the specific garlic essential oil ingredient used to create the infused olive oil had not received food-grade approval for direct use in food products.

The FDA’s official recall notice categorizes this event under food and beverages/ingredients in its recalls, market withdrawals, and safety alerts database. The agency’s classification confirms this is a food safety matter, not a labeling or packaging issue. The FDA’s @FDArecalls account on X amplified the alert on August 31, 2026, stating that LMSI LLC Kofinas Olive Oil is recalling the garlic Mediterranean infused extra virgin olive oil because it uses a garlic essential oil not approved for culinary use.

What Was the Kofinas Olive Oil Recall About?

Why does “not approved for culinary use” matter?

Essential oils used in aromatherapy, cleaning products, or industrial applications are processed and concentrated differently than food-grade flavor extracts. An essential oil approved for non-food purposes may contain concentrations or processing residues that are unsafe when ingested. Using a garlic essential oil outside its approved culinary use classification means the ingredient has not been evaluated by the FDA for safety as a food additive, which triggers mandatory recall action under U.S. food safety law.

When Did the Kofinas Olive Oil Recall Happen and Which Products Were Affected?

The recall was initiated between August 29 and August 31, 2026. The affected sales window covers product distributed from August 31, 2025, through August 27, 2026, meaning consumers who purchased the garlic-infused oil at any point during that roughly one-year period may have an affected bottle.

Recalled product details:

Product name: Garlic Mediterranean Infused Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Brand: Kofinas Olive Oil (LMSI LLC Kofinas)
Sizes affected: 500 ml, 250 ml, and 100 ml glass bottles
Retail locations: Montgomery Store & Infusion Kitchen, 8210 Market Place Ln., Cincinnati, OH; Findlay Market, 1801 Race St., Cincinnati, OH
Online sales: Direct from the Kofinas brand website

State-level health authorities, including the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, listed this recall in their food and drug recalls summaries dated August 31, 2026, confirming it is a nationwide U.S. food safety event. Independent food safety monitors such as eFoodAlert also documented the same three sizes and the same sales window in their recall roundup coverage.

No other Kofinas products, including other infused olive oil varieties, balsamic vinegars, or gift sets, are included in the recall. The brand’s extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), lemon zest infused oil, basil infused oil, and Mediterranean dipping gift set products are not part of this action based on available information from the FDA’s recalls, market withdrawals, and safety alerts page.

How to Check If Your Kofinas Olive Oil Is Recalled and What the Health Risks Are

If you purchased a garlic-flavored infused olive oil from Kofinas Olive Oil between August 2025 and August 2026, your bottle is likely part of the recall. The check is straightforward: if the product is labeled “Garlic Mediterranean Infused Extra Virgin Olive Oil” and comes in a 100 ml, 250 ml, or 500 ml glass bottle purchased from either Cincinnati retail location or the brand’s online shop, do not use it.

Health risk context: As of the FDA’s publication of the recall notice, there are no reports of illnesses connected to the recalled oil. However, the FDA advises that consumers who experience symptoms of an allergic reaction or food-borne illness after using the product should contact a physician immediately. The concern is not that the oil is acutely toxic in typical amounts, but that the garlic essential oil ingredient has not been evaluated and approved for culinary use, meaning its safety profile when consumed has not been confirmed by regulators.

How to Check If Your Kofinas Olive Oil Is Recalled and What the Health Risks Are

Steps to take if you have the recalled product:

Stop using the oil immediately.
Do not return it to the store shelf or give it as a gift.
Call Kofinas Olive Oil at 513-325-5502 or 513-981-1412 for information about obtaining a full refund.
Contact the company to view store information and confirm return procedures.
If you feel unwell, follow FDA guidance and contact a physician.

How to Get a Refund for the Kofinas Olive Oil Recall

Consumers are entitled to a full refund for the recalled product. The company has provided two direct contact numbers: 513-325-5502 and 513-981-1412. Reach out to either number to get information about the refund process, confirm your product qualifies, and arrange return or disposal of the bottle. The FDA’s official recall page for LMSI LLC Kofinas lists these contact details and confirms the full-refund policy.

Keep your purchase receipt if you have it, but even without one, contacting the company directly is the recommended first step. For online purchases, the brand’s website order history may serve as proof of purchase.

Where to Report the Kofinas Olive Oil Recall and the FDA Statement

Consumers can report adverse reactions or concerns related to the Kofinas Olive Oil recall directly to the FDA through MedWatch, the agency’s safety reporting portal. The FDA’s official recall statement, published on its recalls, market withdrawals, and safety alerts page, confirms the voluntary nature of the recall and the absence of illness reports as of the announcement date. Following FDA on social media, including the @FDArecalls account, is one way to stay current on any updates to this or related recall actions.

Greek-language media outlets, including dnews.gr, reported the event as a recall of Greek olive oil with garlic flavor in the U.S. market, noting that U.S. food safety authorities moved to withdraw the product after identifying a component not approved for food use. This international coverage underscores the significance of the recall for Mediterranean olive oil producers and importers operating in the U.S. market.

Is Kofinas Olive Oil Safe to Buy Now, and How Does It Compare to Other Brands?

The recall applies only to the Garlic Mediterranean Infused Extra Virgin Olive Oil in the three specified sizes. All other Kofinas olive oil products, including their single-origin EVOO from Crete, lemon zest infused oil, basil infused oil, balsamic vinegars, and gift sets such as the four bottle gift set and Mediterranean dipping gift set, remain available and are not subject to this recall based on current FDA information from eFoodAlert’s recall roundup.

Kofinas Olive Oil markets itself on several quality differentiators relevant to consumers comparing brands after a recall event:

Single origin: Sourced from Crete, Greece, with traceable Mediterranean provenance.
Polyphenol (antioxidant) content: High polyphenol levels are a marker of fresh, quality extra virgin olive oil.
Acidity level: Low acidity is a standard quality indicator for genuine EVOO.
Freshness: The brand emphasizes harvest-date transparency.

These attributes are worth considering when deciding whether to continue purchasing from Kofinas after the recall is resolved. The voluntary nature of the recall, combined with zero illness reports, suggests the company acted responsibly once the ingredient issue was identified.

FAQ

What is the fake olive oil scandal in Italy?

Italy’s fake olive oil scandal refers to a series of investigations revealing that oils labeled as extra virgin olive oil were adulterated with lower-grade oils, such as sunflower or soybean oil, sometimes with added chlorophyll to mimic color. Major Italian brands were implicated in investigations by Italian authorities in the mid-2010s. The scandal prompted stricter EU and international standards for EVOO certification and labeling.

What brands are 100% real olive oil?

No universal certification guarantees 100% purity for every bottle, but brands that carry verified third-party certifications such as the California Olive Oil Council (COOC) seal, the North American Olive Oil Association (NAOOA) quality seal, or PDO/PGI designations from the EU are considered more reliably authentic. Single-origin brands with transparent harvest dates and polyphenol testing, like Kofinas Olive Oil sourced from Crete, also tend to offer stronger traceability than mass-market blends.

What two refrigerated items were recalled at Costco?

This FAQ refers to separate recall events unrelated to the Kofinas Olive Oil recall. Costco has issued various refrigerated product recalls over time; specific items vary by recall event and date. For the most current Costco refrigerated product recalls, consumers should check the FDA recalls, market withdrawals, and safety alerts page or Costco’s official website directly for up-to-date recall information.

Is Bertolli olive oil real or fake?

Bertolli has faced scrutiny in past years over whether its products meet extra virgin olive oil standards. A 2010 University of California Davis study found that several major olive oil brands, including Bertolli, failed to meet international EVOO standards in taste panel tests. Bertolli has since updated some of its products and sourcing practices. Consumers seeking verified EVOO should look for third-party certification seals and check the harvest date on the label.

Conclusion

The Kofinas Olive Oil recall is a targeted, voluntary food safety action affecting one specific product: the Garlic Mediterranean Infused Extra Virgin Olive Oil in 100 ml, 250 ml, and 500 ml sizes, sold between August 2025 and August 2026. The recall reason is clear: the product was made using a garlic essential oil not approved for culinary use. No illnesses have been reported.

Actionable next steps for consumers:

Stop using the recalled garlic-infused oil immediately.
Call 513-325-5502 or 513-981-1412 to arrange a full refund.
Follow FDA on social media and sign up for the FDA’s free FSN weekly newsletter to receive future recall alerts.
Check the FDA’s recalls, market withdrawals, and safety alerts page for any updates to the Kofinas recall scope.
If purchasing Kofinas olive oil going forward, the brand’s non-recalled products, including its single-origin EVOO from Crete and other infused varieties, remain available through the brand’s shop.

Staying informed through official FDA channels is the most reliable way to track this and any future recall events affecting olive oil or other food products.