Glass bottles of different sizes for the packaging of virgin olive oil: influence on shelf life

The influence of bottle sizes on extra virgin olive oil quality decay during storage in different conditions, i.e. dark and light, was investigated for a period of about 8 months. Three clear glass bottles with different volumetric capacity, i.e. 0.125 L, 0.250 L, and 0.500 L were used. Marked differences were recorded among samples as related to the light exposure, i.e. more advanced quality decay under light conditions as compared to dark conditions. PCA analysis showed a clear sample separation as related to the exposure conditions and storage time, whereas only under light exposure the bottles size become a relevant parameter to determine more advanced quality decay probably as a consequence of the highest ratio between the exposed oil surface and the oil mass volume into the bottle. This result was confirmed by LDA that clearly evidenced a group separation of the oil samples stored in 0.125 L volume bottles.