Companies adulterate the product by mixing other vegetable oils

Auditors and federal tax technicians from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (Mapa) have already issued, this year, 48 infraction notices to companies accused of adulterating olive oil, mixing other vegetable oils of unknown origin with the original product.

According to the ministry, inspection actions to curb irregular imports and the packaging, labeling and sale of counterfeit products also resulted in the seizure of around 100,000 liters of olive oil and the ban on the sale of 29 brands. The list of batches unfit for human consumption and whose collection was determined is available on the ministry’s website.

In just one of the operations (Gethsêmani), launched in March, with the participation of police forces from São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, Mapa employees seized 60.6 thousand liters of extra virgin olive oil found in the warehouse of a clandestine factory in Saquarema (RJ). With the addition of the 37.5 thousand liters of soy oil stored at the site, those involved could produce at least 196 thousand bottles of fraudulent olive oil. Labels and lids of different brands of olive oil were also found at the site.

This Tuesday (22), Mapa released a list in which it indicates batches of 12 brands of olive oil that, according to the results of tests carried out at the Federal Agricultural Defense Laboratory, contain, in their compositions, other unidentified vegetable oils , posing a risk to the health of consumers.

In an interview with Agência Brasil, Mapa’s Vegetal Quality Inspection Coordinator, Ludmilla Verona, explained that, in general, adulteration is already carried out in the national territory, by Brazilian importing and packaging companies – some in an irregular situation, with CNPJ suspended or request to close activities.

“In most cases, we observe that the import of olive oil in bulk is done legally,” explained Ludmilla, referring to the way the product arrives in the country, in gallons or barrels, for packaging. “It is at this point that the fraud is carried out, with the addition of other vegetable oils, to increase the product’s yield.”

“Some of the brands [importadas] are known [em seus países de origem]but the Ministry does not properly assess the origin [da principal matéria-prima]. How is there a possibility [dos fraudadores] use labels from reputable brands, the Ministry always discloses not only the name of the brand, to alert consumers regarding the risk to consumers, but also the batch and the data of the importing companies and those responsible for marketing in Brazil”, added the coordinator, highlighting that the sale of suspended products constitutes a serious infraction and establishments that continue to sell them may be held responsible.

Mapa’s recommendation for anyone who has products from brands disqualified for fraud at home or in a commercial establishment is to stop using them immediately. The consumer can also look for the commercial establishment where they purchased it to try to replace it with another item of the same value, as provided for in the Consumer Protection Code.

The folder also advises consumers to always be suspicious when the price is well below the average of other available brands, check if the company is duly registered, avoid buying olive oil in bulk, pay attention to the expiration date and ingredients described on the label and choose products produced less time ago.