With surges of local pride when it comes to food origin, we can empathize with the gravity of the scandal Italian authorities recently uncovered in regards to extra virgin olive oils labeled “100% Italian.”
Needless to say, it turns out that this label was less than accurate.
Bari Today reports that The Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources in Perugia tested and found that around 235 thousand tons of olive oil labeled and claimed as 100% from and made in Italy was, in fact, from a number of other countries including Syria, Turkey, Morocco and Tunisia - a big deal for one of the world's leaders in the export and production of olive oil.
The profit, Bari reports, was tens of millions of Euros (even higher in U.S. dollars with 1 Euro equating to $1.09) meant for Italian local companies.
The scam reportedly includes six suspects - all in competition with one another - for crimes of “commercial fraud and counterfeiting of geographical indications or appellations of origin food.”
The Rome-based Core Agribusiness and Forestry worked with Provincial Command of Bari, as well as the Criminal Investigation Section of the State Forestry Corps of the Public Prosecutor of Bari to carry out checks on several companies in question.
Keep checking in with DeliMarket News for the latest developments in this and other occurrences that could affect the deli industry.
