Nearly 180 quintals of olive oil, falsely marketed as organic extra virgin olive oil, were seized in the provinces of Catanzaro and Barletta-Andria-Trani. The operation, led by the Financial Police in collaboration with the Central Inspectorate for Quality Protection and Fraud Prevention (ICQRF), revealed that the oil was of lower quality than claimed.
Inspections conducted at two companies—one in Calabria and one in Puglia—uncovered discrepancies in the registered quantities of oil. Laboratory analyses confirmed that the product, listed as organic extra virgin olive oil in the SIAN telematic system, was actually a mix of virgin oil and lampante oil, the latter being non-edible and potentially hazardous due to its high acidity level.
The Financial Police seized three tanks containing 17,900 kg of oil, including 4,500 kg of lampante oil, with a total market value exceeding €200,000. The owner of the Calabrian company was reported to the Public Prosecutor’s Office in Catanzaro for fraud in commerce and selling adulterated food products as genuine.
It’s crucial to emphasize that, under the presumption of innocence, charges will only be confirmed upon a final conviction. The investigation is still in its preliminary phase.
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