68,000 gallons of 'unfit' olive oil seized by Italy and Spain

European officials, where the majority of the world's olive oil is produced, have accused 11 people of selling adulterated oil unfit for consumption.

< p class="css-at9mc1 evys1bk0">Law enforcement in Spain and Italy arrested 11 people who were carrying out a “food fraud operation” that produced more than 260,000 liters, or about 68,000 gallons, of olive oil sold at high prices. of quality but in reality “unfit for consumption,” officials said Monday.

Officers of the Spanish Civil Guard and Italian Carabinieri searched several locations last latest in both countries, including sites in the Italian regions of Sicily and Tuscany, and oil barrels discovered containing lampante oil, the lowest quality of olive oil, considered poor quality due to its high level of acidity and unpleasant flavor and odor.

Agents also seized 91,000 euros, or about $98,000, and billing documents belonging to the 11 people arrested, authorities said.

Spanish and Italian authorities, who did not immediately respond to requests for comment Monday, did not name the 11 people arrested or list the specific charges.

The arrests highlighted an underworld of fraudulent food sellers in Europe that have since for years, have been capitalizing on gourmets looking for luxury olive oil, particularly from Italy and Spain, where the local products are known for their slightly fruity, nutty scent and green, vibrant. buttery yellow hues dripping onto the plates of countless dishes, from villas in the hinterland to gourmet restaurants around the world.

Since 2013, European authorities are trying to crack down on fraudulent labeling of a host of food products by mounting joint investigations with a number of law enforcement agencies and imposing tougher fines. These false labels sometimes created a confusing market in Europe, involving products such as meat labeled beef but which was actually cheap horse meat and an expensive spice called saffron but which was actually adulterated saffron mixed with cheaper materials.

< p class="css-at9mc1 evys1bk0">But for years, olive oil remained one of the most mislabeled food products on the continent, according to the 2022 report of the European Commission on food safety.

In 2019, olive oil became the product subject to the greatest number of requests for investigation , followed by fish and meat products, according to the report.

About 15 percent of survey requests. Suspicious products reported to the European Commission's food fraud system came from Spain last year. Of these reports, most involved squid products or mislabeled olive oil, the report said.

"Unfortunately, adulteration of "Extra virgin olive oil is a common practice, which is why the fight against this disease is a priority for law enforcement, especially in producing countries," said Europol, the Union agency European Union for Police Cooperation, in a press release.

Italian authorities have been particularly busy in recent years fighting against mislabeled olive oil. L'Olive Oil Times, a publication that covers the olive oil industry, reported that Italian authorities blocked the sale of 2.3 million liters, or approximately 607,595 gallons, of virgin olive oils and refined products labeled as extra virgin last year.

Photos and videos from the investigation published by Europol...