Spanish olive oil market accused of fraud amid rising prices
The head of the Spanish cooperative Dcoop, one of the world's largest olive oil producers, accused companies in the sector of adulterating products with sunflower oil or pomace oil, thereby reducing the product's prices.
While the cooperative's head, Antonio Luque, quoted by the newspaper "ABC," did not name specific companies, he stated that the fraud aimed at lowering olive oil prices is an open secret.
The president of Dcoop called on the prosecutor's office to investigate all Spanish companies in the sector and improve the quality of inspections, which he considers insufficient.
According to data published by the Anierac Association of Olive Oil Producers and Refiners in August, sales clearly declined in the first half of 2024. The reasons were longer periods of drought over the past two years, resulting in smaller olive harvests and increased olive oil prices.
The world's largest producer
Spain is the largest olive producer in the world and, among other things, the main exporter of olive oil to the USA.
However, the sector is concerned about Donald Trump's victory in the last presidential elections, as he previously announced intentions to impose tariffs on EU products, noted the newspaper "ABC".
