Pantry Staples
Olive oil, honey, chocolate, nuts, grains, and other foundational foods
βHow We Evaluated This Category
βWhat to Look For
- β’COOC certification for olive oil (stricter than international standards)
- β’Harvest date on olive oil (should be within 18 months)
- β’Heavy metal testing for chocolate and rice products
- β’Mercury testing for canned fish (Safe Catch tests every fish)
- β’Pasture-raised certifications with outdoor access requirements
βRed Flags to Avoid
- β’Olive oils without harvest dates or vague origin claims
- β’Imported honey without origin (46% of imported honey is adulterated)
- β’Rice from Texas/Louisiana/Arkansas (highest arsenic levels)
- β’'Cage-free' eggs (just means no cages, not outdoor access)
- β’Fish without mercury testing or sustainable sourcing
πOur Methodology
Products evaluated on third-party certifications, published lab testing for contaminants, supply chain transparency, and adherence to category-specific quality standards. Prioritized brands with verifiable sourcing and independent testing.
π Key Certifications to Know
olive oil(9)

California Olive Ranch
100% California Extra Virgin Olive Oil
COOC certified (stricter than international standards). Harvest date on every bottle. Single-origin California olives. Best-in-class freshness and traceability.
Graza
Sizzle (Cooking EVOO)
Spanish single-origin Picual olives in squeeze bottle. Designed for cooking with higher smoke point. Harvest date on every bottle.

California Olive Ranch
100% California Reserve Miller's Blend
This is the gold standard for domestic oil, carrying the COOC (California Olive Oil Council) seal which enforces stricter standards than the USDA. It is consistently fresh, single-origin, and provides a harvest date on every bottle.

Cobram Estate
California Select Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Cobram Estate utilizes a proprietary 'tree-to-table' integrated model that ensures olives are crushed within 4-6 hours of picking. They are world leaders in olive oil research and consistently win international competitions for purity and flavor profile.

Apollo Olive Oil
Mistral Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Apollo uses a unique vacuum-milling process that prevents oxygen from touching the oil during extraction, preserving the highest possible polyphenol levels. It is one of the few oils that is truly 'raw' and unheated.

Gaea
Gaea Fresh
Gaea Fresh addresses the biggest enemy of olive oilβoxidationβby using nitrogen flushing and black-painted glass to block 100% of light and air. It is the first olive oil in the world to be certified carbon neutral.

California Olive Ranch
100% California Reserve Collection Miller's Blend
This is the gold standard for domestic extra virgin olive oil, carrying the COOC seal which has stricter standards than international bodies. It is a single-origin oil that provides a clear harvest date and uses cold-extraction within hours of picking.

Cobram Estate
California Select Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Cobram Estate utilizes proprietary 'ultra-premium' harvesting technology that minimizes fruit damage and preserves high polyphenol counts. Their oils consistently win international competitions for chemical purity and flavor profile.

Bariani
Bariani Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Bariani is a cult-favorite among purists for its 'raw' approach. It is unfiltered, decanted in stainless steel tanks, and bottled in small batches to maintain the highest possible enzymatic activity.
honey(9)

Wedderspoon
Raw Premium Manuka Honey KFactor 16
KFactor 16 verified for authentic New Zealand manuka. Raw and unpasteurized. Non-GMO Project verified. Full traceability to New Zealand hives.

Comvita
UMF 20+ Raw Manuka Honey
Comvita is the gold standard for therapeutic honey, holding both UMF and MGO certifications with a high 20+ rating. Every batch is triple-tested for purity and potency, ensuring the bioactive compounds remain intact through the supply chain.

Beekeeper's Naturals
Raw Wildflower Honey
This is the best everyday honey due to its strict 'Glyphosate Residue Free' certification and sustainable sourcing. It maintains the natural pollen and enzyme profile often lost in commercial processing.

Steens
Raw Manuka Honey UMF 15+
Steens uses a unique 'Whole Bean' cold-press extraction method that doesn't fine-filter the honey, resulting in a higher amino acid and pollen content than even other premium Manuka brands.

Heavenly Organics
Raw Acacia Honey
This honey is wild-harvested from the Himalayan mountains, making it naturally organic and free from the commercial agricultural chemicals found in many farm-based honeys.

Comvita
Certified UMF 20+ Raw Manuka Honey
Comvita is the global leader in medical-grade Manuka honey, holding the prestigious UMF (Unique Manuka Factor) certification which guarantees MGO levels. Their 20+ grade offers therapeutic-level methylglyoxal concentrations with full traceability from hive to jar.

Steens
Raw Unpasteurized Manuka Honey UMF 15+
Steens distinguishes itself by using a unique 'Whole Bean' cold-press extraction method that preserves the bee bread (pollen) and natural enzymes better than centrifugal extraction. Their traceability system allows consumers to see the exact GPS location of the hive their honey came from.

Beekeeper's Naturals
Raw Wildflower Honey
Beekeeper's Naturals sets the standard for purity in everyday honey by third-party testing for pesticides like glyphosate and neonicotinoids. Their wildflower honey is raw, enzymatic, and sourced from sustainable apiaries across North America.

Heavenly Organics
Raw White Himalayan Honey
This is a rare, single-origin honey harvested from wild beehives in the Himalayan Mountains. It is USDA Organic and Fair Trade, ensuring that the honey is free from agricultural runoff and that the wild harvesters are paid fairly.
chocolate(9)

Hu
Simple Dark Chocolate Bar
Only 3 ingredients: cacao, coconut sugar, cocoa butter. No refined sugar, dairy, soy lecithin, or emulsifiers. Certified organic and Fair Trade.
Valrhona
Guanaja 70% Dark Chocolate
Valrhona is the gold standard for professional pastry chefs, offering unmatched consistency and a B Corp certification that ensures ethical sourcing. The Guanaja bar is celebrated for its complex flavor profile and commitment to 100% traceability to the plantation level.

Pascha
Organic 85% Cacao Dark Chocolate
Pascha specializes in 'ultra-clean' chocolate, specifically targeting the removal of common allergens and heavy metal contaminants. Their 85% bar is one of the purest on the market, using only organic cocoa mass, organic cane sugar, and organic cocoa butter.

Raaka
Pink Sea Salt 71% Unroasted Chocolate
Raaka utilizes an 'unroasted' process that preserves the natural polyphenols and fruity flavor profiles of the bean. They are industry leaders in 'Transparent Trade,' publishing exactly what they pay farmers, which is significantly above Fair Trade minimums.

Taza Chocolate
70% Deliciously Dark Amaze Bar
Taza is the pioneer of stone-ground chocolate in the US, using traditional Mexican molinos. This minimal processing results in a unique, gritty texture that preserves the integrity of the bean and requires fewer additives.

Raaka Chocolate
Pink Sea Salt 71% Dark Chocolate
Raaka uses an unroasted 'bean-to-bar' process that preserves the natural antioxidant profile and complex flavors of the cacao. Their commitment to transparent trade and organic, single-origin sourcing is industry-leading.

Taza Chocolate
Organic Amaze Bar 80% Dark
Taza uses traditional stone-grinding to create a unique gritty texture that requires minimal processing and no industrial conching. This 'Direct Trade' pioneer offers exceptional purity with only two ingredients in their base bars.

Beyond Good
Single Origin Madagascar 80% Dark
Beyond Good is one of the few brands that manufactures at the source in Madagascar, ensuring the cacao is processed fresh and providing more economic value to the local community. Their heirloom Criollo cacao is naturally less bitter.

Alter Eco
Classic Blackout 85% Dark
Alter Eco is a leader in regenerative agriculture and climate-neutral business practices. Their Blackout bar is a high-potency dark chocolate with minimal sugar and clean ingredients.
nut butters(5)

Once Again
Organic Creamy Almond Butter
Single ingredient: dry roasted organic almonds. No added oils, sugar, or salt. Employee-owned company. Glass jar (no BPA concerns).

Once Again
Organic Creamy Peanut Butter (No Salt Added)
Once Again sets the gold standard for safety and purity in peanut butter, utilizing a rigorous testing protocol for aflatoxins and heavy metals that far exceeds industry standards. Their employee-owned model ensures high accountability and consistent quality in their organic, single-ingredient product.

Artisana Organics
Raw Organic Almond Butter
Artisana is the premier choice for nutrient density, using a unique stone-grinding process that keeps the almonds raw (under 115Β°F). This preserves the natural enzymes and delicate monounsaturated fats that are often degraded by high-heat commercial roasting.

Georgia Grinders
Creamy Pecan Butter
Georgia Grinders produces small-batch nut butters with a focus on sourcing. Their pecan butter is made from premium Georgia-grown pecans and sea salt, offering a superior omega-3 profile compared to almond or peanut butter.

Georgia Grinders
Creamy Roasted Almond Butter
Georgia Grinders focuses on small-batch production using high-quality California almonds and a touch of sea salt. Their slow-roasting process creates a superior flavor profile without the need for the sugars or stabilizers found in mass-market almond butters.
rice grains(1)
canned fish(2)

Safe Catch
Elite Wild Tuna
Every single fish tested for mercury (not batch testing). 10x stricter mercury limit than FDA. Wild-caught, pole-and-line sustainable method.
Wild Planet
Wild Sardines in Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Wild-caught, sustainably harvested sardines. Packed in EVOO not seed oils. Rich in omega-3s with low mercury (small fish). MSC certified.
eggs(4)
Vital Farms
Pasture-Raised Eggs
Certified Humane pasture-raised with 108 sq ft per bird. Hens actually go outside. Traceable to specific farm on each carton.

Vital Farms
Pasture-Raised Organic Eggs
Vital Farms is the gold standard for accessible, high-quality eggs, offering true pasture-raised standards (108 sq ft per hen) and USDA Organic certification. Their unique 'Trace My Egg' feature allows consumers to see the actual farm where their specific carton was produced.

Alexandre Family Farm
Regenerative Organic Pasture-Raised Eggs
Alexandre Family Farm provides the highest tier of ecological integrity as the first Regenerative Organic Certified dairy and egg producer in the US. Their focus on soil health and biodiversity translates to a superior nutrient profile in their eggs.

Happy Egg Co.
Heritage Breed Pasture-Raised Eggs
Happy Egg's Heritage Breed (Speckled Legbar and Copper Maran) are prized for their striking blue and chocolate brown shells and exceptionally large, creamy amber yolks. They provide a superior culinary experience compared to standard white or brown eggs.