Olive oil consumption has been declining in recent years

To shed light on the current state of the Mediterranean diet, the Carbonell Homemade Food Barometer was conducted to examine in detail the role olive oil plays in the lives of people in Spain. The survey revealed where Spanish home cooking stands today.

According to the Carbonell report, olive oil remains an essential ingredient in people's everyday diet. That said, compared to around six years ago, its presence has declined significantly.

Since 2012, consumption of this product has dropped by 20% in Spain.

A healthy diet

The report was based on a survey of 2,000 men and women aged 18 to 65. The results showed that 95% of the Spanish population considers adding olive oil to daily meals highly recommended.

Olive oil was chosen as the single most important ingredient in our diets, ahead of foods such as jamón serrano, vegetables, and wine.

Olive oil remains a cornerstone of Spanish cooking, according to 86% of those surveyed.

When it comes to weekly shopping, olive oil is a non-negotiable. Nine out of ten Spaniards say it should always have a place in their kitchen.

The ingredients that follow olive oil most closely are onion, garlic, parsley, and wine — though olive oil ranks well above all of them.

All of this makes it clear that this culinary knowledge cannot be allowed to fade away. There is a real need to educate younger generations about the importance of olive oil and what it means to traditional Spanish cooking.

What is driving this decline?

One major factor behind the drop in olive oil use is the demands of modern working life.

People cook when they have the time, but when work schedules get in the way, they tend to opt for quicker meals — skipping the hours a proper recipe might require.

Against this backdrop, 8 out of 10 Spaniards agree that the tradition of homemade cooking in Spain may be coming to an end.

That is why, at Mi Oliva Gourmet, we have launched a campaign to champion traditional recipes.

These are wholesome recipes built around simple ingredients — vegetables, pulses, fish — that are straightforward to make, with Extra Virgin Olive Oil as the indispensable constant.

You can browse the recipes we have published so far by clicking here to see all the blog recipes.