04/03/2024
Just a couple of months ago, this news item shocked us.
"68,000 Gallons of ‘Unfit’ Olive Oil Seized by Italy and Spain
Officials in Europe, where a majority of the world’s olive oil is produced, charged 11 people with selling adulterated oil not suitable for consumption. Unfortunately, the faking of extra virgin olive oil is a common practice, which is why the fight against it is a law enforcement priority — especially in production countries,” Europol, the European Union agency for law enforcement cooperation, said in a statement.
The Italian authorities have been particularly busy in recent years cracking down on mislabeled olive oil. The Olive Oil Times, a publication that covers the olive oil industry, reported that Italian officials prevented 2.3 million liters, or roughly 607,595 gallons, of virgin and refined olive oils labeled as extra virgin from being sold last year."
