At Pons, our commitment to polyphenols is comprehensive and has been years in the making: agronomic decisions, in the mill, and in the laboratory.
In 2026, we took another step forward. We initiated a collaboration with the University of Lleida and its Antioxidant Research Group. This is a leading research center worldwide in the study and analysis of antioxidant agents.
As a result of this collaboration, our varieties are analyzed using UPLC-MS/MS, a high-resolution technique that individually identifies and quantifies the phenolic compounds present: hydroxytyrosol, oleocanthal, oleuropein, tyrosol, and other secoiridoid derivatives.
According to the analysis by the University of Lleida, the varieties in the JANIROC collection clearly exceed the reference threshold of 250 mg/kg that characterizes an oil with a high phenolic content according to EFSA legislation.
JANIROC is certified EU Organic (CCPAE) and USDA Organic (NOP).
Three varieties, three phenolic profiles
| Variety | Guaranteed minimum (IOC) | Batch 2025/26 · IOC | Batch 2025/26 · UPLC-MS/MS (UdL) |
|---|---|---|---|
| JANIROC Arbequina | from 325 mg/kg | 482 mg/kg | 652 mg/kg |
| JANIROC Lecciana | from 450 mg/kg | 483 mg/kg | 410 mg/kg |
| JANIROC Koroneiki | from 500 mg/kg | 671 mg/kg | 627 mg/kg |
Independent scientific validation
The determination and quantification of the phenolic compounds in our oils is carried out by the Antioxidant Research Group at the University of Lleida using liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS), a technique that allows for the individual quantification of secoiridoids using specific commercial standards, overcoming the limitations of the official method based on HPLC-DAD.
Antioxidant Research Group of the University of Lleida
University of Lleida · Campus of ETSEA, Building 2, floor 3, Av. de l'Alcalde Rovira Roure, 191
Extraction and Quantification of Phenolic Compounds in Different Varieties of Olive Oil
Alba Macia i Puig
Head of Chromatographic Techniques, Antioxidants Research Group (UdL)
Technical manager of the report
Principal Investigator of the Antioxidants Research Group. Professor at the Department of Food Technology, Engineering and Science (UdL)
Coordinator of the research lines in nutrition of the group
Olive oil polyphenols contribute to the protection of blood lipids from oxidative stress. The beneficial effect is obtained with a daily intake of 20 g of olive oil. Claim authorized by Regulation (EU) 432/2012. http://www.antioxidants.udl.cat/
Why we provide a minimum and not an exact figure
The polyphenol content is not a fixed property of the variety. Two batches of the same variety harvested on the same day can yield different values: the plot, the amount of water the tree received, the moment the fruit was harvested, the time between harvesting and milling, the time and temperature of malaxation, and many other factors all play a role. Furthermore, the oil loses polyphenols over months in the bottle.
That is why we do not publish an exact figure. We analyze each batch with our own HPLC equipment in our laboratory and guarantee the minimum that is sustained throughout the campaign, not the best analysis of the year.
A proposal that goes beyond the numbers
In the high-phenolic EVOO segment, the polyphenol count has become a common talking point.
PONS's current and future proposal is not built solely on that figure, but on bioavailability and a more precise question: of all the phenolic compounds present in an oil, which ones are actually absorbed by the body?
That question makes sense when there is in-house research to formulate it and a validated analytical methodology to answer it.
It is an attribute that cannot be replicated without a laboratory or characterization by variety, and that distinguishes PONS from most producers, who simply declare a total figure without delving into its composition.
What does it mean to characterize the phenolic profile of an oil
Characterizing the phenolic profile goes beyond providing a total figure. The UPLC-MS/MS (ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry) technique allows for the individual identification and quantification of each compound: hydroxytyrosol, oleocanthal, oleuropein, tyrosol, and the rest of the secoiridoid derivatives.
This makes it possible to know not only how many polyphenols an oil contains, but also which ones and in what proportion. Two oils with a similar total figure can have very different profiles, and that is where characterization by variety adds real value.
This is an ongoing line of research, not a final result, and its conclusions will be incorporated into the technical documentation of the professional channel.
In addition, PONS has incorporated a high-precision liquid chromatograph into its internal laboratory.
Each batch of oil is analyzed weekly to adjust the process for subsequent batches of the same variety, within the same campaign.
Behind each bottle of PONS EVOO, there is a verified polyphenol data specific to that batch, not a campaign average.
PONS incorporates HPLC for real-time polyphenol control in EVOO
PONS analyzes polyphenols using a high-precision liquid chromatograph (HPLC) installed in its own in-house laboratory.
PONS incorporates HPLC for real-time polyphenol control in EVOO
PONS analyzes polyphenols using a high-precision liquid chromatograph (HPLC) installed in its own in-house laboratory.
The JANIROC Collection
JANIROC is PONS' collection of high-phenolic organic extra virgin olive oils. It includes monovarietal and coupage oils made with varieties selected for their phenolic profile, with EU Organic (CCPAE) and USDA Organic (NOP) certification.
Technical information for B2B buyers and specialized channels
For distributors, importers, and high-end professional and HORECA channel buyers, PONS technical documentation includes chromatographic profiles by variety, data from ongoing research on the bioavailable fraction, and information regarding current certifications.
As an organic EVOO brand with its own research on polyphenol bioavailability and a reference in R&D on olive oil polyphenols in collaboration with the University of Lleida, PONS possesses the scientific traceability necessary to support value arguments in channels that demand rigor: specialized distributors, importers with high-end positioning, high-level HORECA, and international distribution with technical product selection criteria.
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PONS installs an HPLC in its own laboratory to measure EVOO polyphenols in real time
PONS integrates an HPLC in its Lleida laboratory, within the milling line, to measure EVOO polyphenols batch by batch during harvest, validated with the University of Lleida.