A staggering 2,425 litres of counterfeit olive oil, masquerading as the real deal, have been seized in the Porto area, with the investigation revealing a potential widespread scam. But here's where it gets controversial: the operation didn't stop there. Authorities also discovered a shocking 14,920 litres of cooking oil in Bragança, bearing suspicious labels, raising concerns about the extent of this fraudulent activity.
The newspaper A Verdade sheds light on the operation's purpose: to combat food fraud amidst soaring olive oil prices. The investigation uncovered not only the counterfeit oil but also 1,217 fake labels, designed to deceive consumers into believing they were purchasing genuine extra virgin olive oil.
And this is the part most people miss: the probe extended beyond Porto. In Bragança, an industrial facility producing and selling edible oils was found with a substantial amount of mislabeled oil, further emphasizing the need for consumer vigilance.
ASAE has issued a consumer alert, urging caution when encountering suspiciously low prices. This type of scam often involves cooking oil being sold as extra virgin olive oil, misleading unsuspecting buyers. The newspaper advises consumers to scrutinize labels and compare market prices to avoid falling victim to such scams.
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