The point is: It’s not the addition of olive oil to a diet that’s lowering LDL cholesterol levels when it replaces butter, Crisco shortening, or coconut oil. Rather, it’s the subtraction of artery–clogging fats and LDL–cholesterol raising saturated fats, trans fats, and/or cholesterol.
That’s precisely what the official health claim allowed by the Food and Drug Administration states. Here are the claim’s exact words (we’ve emphasized key words):