Italian prosecutor accuses two private label olive oil brands of commercial fraud

According to OliveOilTimes.com, the prosecutor of Turin, Italy, Raffaele Guariniello, is investigating various olive oil producer companies for possible commercial fraud. Seven major olive oil brands, including to private label brands, sold in Italian supermarkets are involved in the investigation: Carapelli, Santa Sabina, Bertolli, Coricelli, Sasso, Primadonna (a private label for the retail chain Lidl) and Antica Badia (a private label for the retail chain Eurospin).

The investigation started after a consumer protection magazine analyzed the olive oil contained in 20 bottles labeled as “extra virgin olive oil” distributed and sold by the most popular supermarkets in Italy. The tests found that the olive oil only qualified as “virgin.” The prosecutor alleges that this labeling is consumer deception and fraud, especially since consumers typically pay 30 to 40 percent more for a bottle of extra virgin olive oil.

To read the full article, http://www.oliveoiltimes.com/olive-oil-business/europe/prosecutor-accuses-seven-brands-of-olive-oil-fraud/49603