Fake olive oils found in a wholesale unit - also available in shops and markets, do not consume!

The National Authority for Trade and Consumer Protection (NATCP) carried out a full inspection of a retail and wholesale unit in the 19th district of Budapest, based on a public interest report, with the assistance of National Tax and Customs Administration (NTCA) patrols. Laboratory tests carried out on olive oil products seized for serious hygiene and food safety shortcomings confirmed the existence of food fraud.

In the course of the official control launched on the basis of a public interest report, food chain safety experts investigated the legality of the marketing of several “extra virgin olive oils” or similar products offered for sale. Following the inspection, it was found that several of the products did not bear the details of the company responsible for their marketing and that the food company under investigation was unable to provide an invoice to prove the traceability of the products, which is a fundamental food safety error, therefore the NATCP inspectors immediately blocked the batches of products concerned on the spot.

After laboratory analysis of the seized products, it was found that the chemical parameters of the products labelled as extra virgin olive oil showed values typical of sunflower oil. Since the oils tested did not meet the strict criteria for extra virgin olive oil, they were considered to be counterfeit.

The Vesuvio brand name is owned by a South African producer based near Cape Town, who uses only hand-picked and selected olives from the estate to produce his products, which are of a high quality not typical of the oils tested by the NATCP.

The following products are concerned:

1) VESUVIO OIL EXTRA VIRGIN PRODUCT

Date of qualification/item identification: 16.02.2027.

2) VESUVIO OLIO DI OLIVA EXTRA VERGINE

Date of qualification/item identification: 15.03.2027.

3) VESUVIO EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL COLD EXTRACTION

Date of qualification/item identification: 16.03.2027.

NATCP will take the necessary measures at national and EU level, but asks consumers, in view of the seriousness of the infringement, not to buy extra virgin olive oil products marketed under the Vesuvio brand and advertised in social media, especially those that do not bear a manufacturer/distributor or Hungarian language marking. If you already have the products mentioned above, do not consume them and, if possible, return them to the place of purchase.

The NATCP will continue to pay particular attention to checking the quality and origin of foodstuffs to ensure consumer safety. Inspections are ongoing and regular follow-up checks are carried out to ensure that infringements are detected.