CNN —Officials in southern Italy have broken up an alleged racket selling fake olive oil, confiscating 42 tons of the extra virgin variety worth almost $1 million.
Authorities confiscated 71 tons of what was referred to as an “oily substance” in plastic tanks, as well as 623 liters of chlorophyll, a component of extra virgin olive oil that was being added to oil of a lesser value.
The investigation started in September with the arrest of 11 people in Italy and Spain and the confiscation of 12 barrels containing 260,000 liters of adulterated, or non-virgin or extra olive oil.
Incidents of falsified extra virgin olive oil have increased in recent years, due to both the popularity of the Mediterranean diet and the effects of climate change, which has greatly reduced production in southern Europe due to devastating droughts, according to the International Olive Council.
In January, officials carried out raids at 50 restaurants in Rome and found seed oil being passed off as extra virgin olive oil.
Organizations:
CNN, Carabinieri, Authorities, International Olive Council
Locations:
Italy, Puglia, Spain, Europe, Rome