The Cátedra de Gastronomía Mediterránea joins the Lisbon Manifesto on EVOO

Topics Universidad de Córdoba

The Cátedra de Gastronomía Mediterránea of the Universidad de Córdoba endorses the Lisbon Manifesto, which brings together more than 80 organisations from 19 countries to strengthen the role of extra virgin olive oil in health.

Francisco CG · Published on October 11, 2026 at 22:29

Ilustración con una figura central que sostiene un manifiesto y una botella de aceite, rodeada de agricultor, científico, edificio y personas estrechando manos. — Photo: Universidad de Córdoba · Gabinete de Comunicación

The Chair of Mediterranean Gastronomy of the University of Córdoba has joined the Lisbon Manifesto on olive oil and health, an initiative promoted within the framework of the Olive Oil World Congress (OOWC). With this signature, the Chair joins the commitment to disseminating the scientific evidence on the benefits of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) as part of a healthy diet.

What the manifesto includes

The document, entitled "Extra virgin olive oil: scientific evidence for global health", gathers the main evidence on the relationship between EVOO consumption and health. Among it is the PREDIMED study, which associated a Mediterranean Diet enriched with EVOO with an approximate 30 % reduction in the risk of heart attack, stroke and cardiovascular death. It also refers to the EFSA's recognition that the polyphenols in olive oil help protect blood lipids from oxidative damage. The manifesto calls on governments, international organizations and health systems to strengthen the presence of EVOO in food and public health strategies aimed at preventing chronic non-communicable diseases.

More than 80 organizations signed up

According to the University of Córdoba, the Manifesto already brings together more than 80 organizations from 19 countries on four continents. Among the signatories are universities and research centres, medical societies, agricultural organizations, industry associations and sector bodies. In the medical and scientific field, they include, among others, the Spanish Society of Primary Care Physicians (SEMERGEN), the Spanish Society of General and Family Physicians (SEMG), the Spanish Society of Community Nutrition (SENC), the Spanish Nutrition Foundation (FEN), the Institute of Biomedical Research of Málaga (IBIMA) and the Spanish Society of Nutrition (SEÑ). The document also has the backing of government representatives from Algeria and Pakistan.

From document to action

The signatories undertake to bring the content of the manifesto to the national level, presenting it to their respective governments, health systems and competent authorities, as well as to the corresponding international bodies. Among the proposals included is the review of national and international dietary guidelines to assess the inclusion of specific recommendations on EVOO consumption, always within the limits of total fat intake, and to collaborate with public authorities to promote its presence in hospitals, care homes, school canteens and primary care centres. The Lisbon Manifesto remains open to new signatories and can be consulted at the link provided by the institution.