DO NOT CONSUME these twelve olive oil brands that have been fraudulently labelled as extra virgin
In a shocking revelation, the Department of Health and Consumer Affairs of the Government of Andalucía has issued a stern recommendation against the consumption of twelve olive oil brands fraudulently labelled as extra virgin. The list includes oils bottled by companies in the province of Malaga, triggering concerns over public health and safety.
The alarming advisory comes in the wake of an investigation conducted on December 4 and 5 by members of the Civil Guard (Seprona) and inspectors from the Health Department. The probe targeted an industrial warehouse in Mairena del Alcor (Seville), where edible oils were being packaged without proper health registration or hygienic conditions, as confirmed during the inspection.
During these interventions, a cache of products and documents referencing companies from various locations, including Campillos and Almargen, Baena (Córdoba), Lucena (Córdoba), Los Rosales-Tocina (Seville), Deifontes (Granada), and Murcia, was discovered. The seized products, labels, and documents have been confiscated by the Guardia Civil, and the facility has been sealed.
The Ministry has identified several brands affected by this fraudulent scheme, such as Carrero, extra virgin olive oil, and Esential, mild olive oil, packaged for Distribuciones Oleotop in Los Rosales-Tocina, Sevilla. Other brands in the list include Cart, Aciencia, Agricultor del Valle, and La Rama, with varying degrees of mislabeling, all posing potential health risks.
The Health Department has initiated control actions at the identified locations, and the Region of Murcia has been duly notified. The authorities are working to coordinate efforts to curb further fraudulent activities and have informed the agri-food quality authorities of Andalusia for necessary actions.
Due to the clandestine nature of this operation, there is a lack of traceability information, making it unclear whether the products have reached consumers. Despite no concrete evidence of immediate danger, the Ministry, as a precaution, advises consumers not to purchase oils with the identified labels. For those already in possession of these products, it is recommended to refrain from consumption and return them to the point of purchase for proper handling by authorized personnel, ensuring they are not reintroduced into the human or animal food chain.
The Health Department assures ongoing coordination with the Guardia Civil to address this clandestine packaging chain and combat food fraud. Regular updates will be provided as significant developments unfold. Stay informed as the situation continues to evolve.
How Do You Tell if Your Olive Oil is Fake?
Going by taste alone is not enough. There are two tests you can perform that might do the trick:
1. Refrigerate the extra virgin olive oil. If it solidifies, it means that it contains mostly monounsaturated fat, which is good because extra virgin olive oil is mostly monounsaturated, and should grow more solid when cold. Putting your oil in the refrigerator will make it become thick and cloudy. If this doesn’t happen, it’s likely that your oil is not extra-virgin. This isn’t a fool-proof test, however, as the olive oils cut with lower grade oils also cloud over. If the oil you put in the fridge doesn’t thicken at all, though, then you know for sure that the oil is fake.
2. Extra virgin olive oil should be flammable enough to keep an oil lamp burning. However, this test isn’t that dependable, for the same reasons mentioned above. But if the oil doesn’t keep the wick of an oil lamp burning, you know that it contains mostly refined oils.
