The president of the world’s largest olive oil producer, the Spanish cooperative Dcoop, denounces fraud with this product to make it cheaper.
Antonio Luque, president of Dcoop, says that olive oil is mixed with olive bran or sunflower oil to lower the selling price to the consumer.
In statements published by the Spanish newspaper, the head of the large Spanish agri-food cooperative regrets that there are “a lot of people” committing this fraud and complains that the Government does not take “measures to prevent it”.
Dcoop has “evidence with names and nicknames” involved in the fraud, but “there is no proof”highlights Luque, noting that, therefore, it is difficult to report these cases to justice.
Thus, the leader of the largest olive oil producer in the world calls for more supervision and considers that “either someone takes this seriously, or it will end up being a problem”.
Luque also accuses the two major employers in the sector – Anierac (National Association of Industrial Packers and Minor Edible Oil Refiners) and Asoliva (Spanish Association of Industry and Commerce Exporter of Olive Oils and Orujo Olive Oils) – of “not fighting fraud”.
The statements made by the president of Dcoop were made when announcing a increase in turnover of the cooperative of around 14% compared to 2023, going from 1,408 million euros to 1,600 million. Sales abroad were around 635.7 million euros.
Spain is responsible for almost half of the world’s olive oil production, being the main supplier of this product to Portugal. In 2023, Spain exported around 377.6 million euros of olive oil to Portugal.
In the coming months, a increased production after a rainy season that benefited olive cultivation.
But this price drop is unlikely to happen in time for this Christmas.
