Ministry of Agriculture Bans Sale of Six Counterfeit Olive Oil Brands

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Ministry of Agriculture has banned the sale of six brands of olive oil considered to be counterfeit and unfit for human consumption.

The labels Oliveiras do Conde, Quinta Lusitana, Quinta D’Ouro, Évora, Costanera, and Olivais do Porto had to be removed from the market by Monday, July 8th.

The supermarket and wholesale chains where these oils were found were subpoenaed to report existing stocks. Any of those selling the products after the warning may be fined R$5,000 per violation, in addition to 400 percent of the products’ wholesale price.

The distributors in charge of the brands are Rhaiza do Brasil Ltda, Mundial Distribuidora, and Comercial Quinta da Serra Ltda.

Fraudulent brands were identified after a clandestine mill in Guarulhos, São Paulo, was uncovered in an operation carried out by the police on May 12th. Bottles of the Costanera and Olivais do Porto brands were found there. The products were made up of a mixture of oils, with no olive oil present.

After uncovering the mill, the Ministry of Agriculture carried out a task force in Curitiba and São Paulo, in which 54 brands of olive oil found in large retail chains were tested. To prove the fraud, a device was used that emits infrared rays, capable of instantly reading the fatty acids that make up the product. Samples have also undergone testing by a device that detects refined oils and blends, even at very low levels.

Nineteen samples of Oliveiras do Conde were analyzed; eight of Quinta Lusitana and two of the Évora brand.

The inspection found the counterfeit oils in shops in eight states, from Alagoas to Santa Catarina.

Mistrust the price: The Ministry of Agriculture cautions consumers against very cheap oils. Counterfeit products cost, on average, between R$7 and R$10 (US$2.5), while real olive oil is priced from R$17.