The operation also extended to Bragança, where another 14,920 litres with labelling irregularities were found, reinforcing suspicions about the scale of the practice.
According to the newspaper A Verdade, the operation was conducted with the aim of curbing food fraud during a period when olive oil has seen a strong price increase.
According to the same source, in addition to the adulterated product, 1,217 counterfeit labels intended to legitimize the oil presented as olive oil were also confiscated.
The newspaper reports that the investigation was not limited to the urban perimeter of Porto. At an industrial unit in Bragança, dedicated to the production and sale of edible oils, another 14,920 litres were seized due to irregularities detected in the labelling.
Warning to consumers
After the seizures, ASAE issued a public warning to consumers. The authority recommends extra caution when faced with prices that are significantly lower than expected, as unexpectedly low prices may suggest that the product does not match the advertised description.
This type of fraud often relies on the use of cooking oil labelled as extra virgin olive oil, leading consumers to misinterpretations.
The publication adds that prevention also depends on carefully reading the information on the labels and comparing prices in the market.
Dining and Cooking