Italian Police Investigate Alleged Olive Oil Fraud

Police in Turin, Italy, are reportedly investigating seven companies,
including Bertolli, Carapelli and Santa Sabina—for allegedly selling
“Extra Virgin” olive oils (EVOOs) that fail to meet EU standards to
be labeled as such. The investigation was reportedly launched after
consumer magazine Il Test notified the police of its taste-test results.
The police then hired the Italian customs agency to test 20 of the most
popular brands of EVOO in a laboratory, finding that nine brands from
seven companies were lower quality oil.

“For months now we have been increasing quality controls. In 2014 our
inspectors carried out 6,000 checks and confiscated oil worth 10 million
euros,” Agriculture Minister Maurizio Martina told The Telegraph. “It’s
vital to protect a sector as important as that of olive oil.” See The Telegraph,
The Guardian and The Local, November 11, 2015.

Issue 584