/>i- The EU has seen a record number of potential fraud, safety, and mislabeling cases involving olive oil so far this year as demand increases for what is considered a kitchen staple.
- The cost of olive oil has more than doubled since 2018, according to the Office for National Statistics, following seasons of massive heat spikes and other factors impacting industry. Along with prices, the number of cross-border EU notifications has increased, addressing mislabeling, potential fraud, and safety cases involving contaminated oil.
- In the first quarter of 2018, 15 cases were recorded by the EU. This year, 50 such cases were recorded in the first three months of the year, more than a threefold increase, according to data released to The Guardian.
- There were many cases where extra virgin olive oil was found to be adulterated by mixing poorer quality oils, cases where virgin olive oil was labeled extra virgin (a more premium, unrefined oil with lower acidity), and cases of misleading or false origin labeling.
- In 2022, the EU introduced new regulations addressing conformity checks of marketing standards for olive oil, as well as methods for analyzing the product.
- Keller and Heckman will continue to monitor and relay any developments in these types of cases.
- For additional discussion and background on food fraud, we have also published a new K&H Food & Chemicals Unpacked podcast, featuring our attorneys discussing the history and global scale of food fraud and economic adulteration (available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts).
Olive Oil Fraud and Mislabeling Cases in EU Hit Record High
Friday, August 2, 2024
