Portuguese food standards agency ASAE seized 6,000 litres of fake olive oil from a packaging and distribution company in Penamacor, Castelo Branco, according to an agency statement.
The fake olive oil was seized as part of operation “Golden Oil III” in October when officers found 3,400 litres of blended false oil decanted into bottles marked olive oil. The seized products had a market value of around €30,000.
ASAE officers also seized a tank filled with 2,400 litres of lampante oil which is used for refining or for technical use and is not fit for human consumption as is.
“In the course of the investigation of the entire supply chain of products were seized at several retailers and wholesalers located in different areas and criminal proceedings were initiated for falsified goods and foodstuffs,” according to the ASAE statement.
The import and packaging company was mixing olive oil with other vegetable oils, pouring it into bottles and labelling them as virgin olive oil. This is a repeat offence, the agency stated.
Production of olive oil hit a 75-year high of 765,000 tons in Portugal in 2015 and olive oil production this year is expected to be the highest for 50 years, according to the National Institute of Statistics.
The boom in production largely is due to the irrigation systems run from the Alqueva reservoir in the Alentejo, meaning olive farms are less dependent on seasonal rainfall.
The southern Alentejo region produces more than 75% of Portugal’s olives.
