80,000 quintals of fake extra-virgin olive oil seized in Siena
Published on 17/10/2012
The Siena public prosecutor's office, together with the anti-fraud department of the Ministry of Agricultural Policies (Icqrf) and the Guardia di Finanza, has seized more than 80,000 quintals of "Tuscan" oil obtained through the illegal blending of lower-grade raw materials and/or materials of other geographic origin. Around 40,000 quintals of product were in fact found to contain "lampante" and "virgin" olive oils, of lower quality than extra-virgin; the other half consisted of blends of oils of "European", Spanish and Greek origin, sold as a 100% Italian product.
The owner of an olive-oil company in the province of Siena, its administrative director, its chemist and a sales employee were arrested. The company in question is Olearia Valpesana Spa, with headquarters and plant in Castellina Scalo in the municipality of Monteriggioni (Siena).
Coldiretti and the Ministry have pointed the finger at products that are put on sale at prices below the real production costs of a product which, given the quality it is supposed to guarantee, also entails high production costs.