The mixture of olive and sunflower oils produced in other countries of the European Union (EU) and sold in Spain is a legal practice that the industry justifies due to the high prices of olive oil, while producers and consumers ask for clear labeling that avoids confusion about the origin.
The agrarian organization UPA denounced at the end of April the “misleading” sale in Spanish supermarkets of olive oil that the packers mixed with sunflower in a “camouflaged” way in Portugal to lower the price and attract consumers.
Specifically, it referred to the marketing in Andalusia and Extremadura of oils mixed and bottled in Portugal by the “La Andaluza” brand, belonging to the Acesur group.
European regulations allow the Member States of the European Union (EU) to prohibit the production in their territory of mixtures of olive oil and other vegetable oils for internal consumption, something that is included in the Spanish quality standard for olive oil.
However, EU countries may not prohibit the marketing in their territory of such mixtures from other countries or the production in their territory of such mixtures with a view to their marketing in another Member State or for export.
Regarding its labeling, the European regulation establishes that the denomination will be that of “mixture of vegetable oils (or their specific name) and olive oil”, followed directly by the indication of the percentage of said oils in the mixture.
UPA has detected that other brands sell mixtures of sunflower and olive oils online, but these specify “more clearly” that it is a mixture, in contrast to the labeling of the criticized brand, which contains a crown of olives. and the image of an Andalusian woman in a flamenco dress.
The organization has shown its indignation at this “misleading sale”, since it “seriously harms olive growers and the entire olive oil chain, by discrediting a product that is at the top of the pyramid of the Mediterranean diet”.
This type of practice arises in response to the increase in the price of olive oil, derived from the escalation of production costs and the short campaign as a consequence of the drought.
The industry has admitted that the mixture of olive and sunflower oils is a “minority” case that has been taking on “some relevance” given the high prices of olive oil, which is reducing its consumption.
Hence, there is a trend in the market to offer smaller formats and mixtures to make the product cheaper and avoid consumer flight, the director of the National Association of Edible Oil Bottlers and Refiners Industrialists (Anierac) explained to Efeagro this Wednesday. Primitivo Fernandez.
The head of the employers’ association, of which Acesur is a member, has assured that “the product is marketed with all the legal requirements” established by Spanish and European regulations.
He has defended that the European regulation does not specify anything about the indication of the origin of these mixtures because “olive oil can move freely” in the internal market and has agreed on the importance of “not confusing the consumer”, providing data that is true and complying with the mandatory information.
The Organization of Consumers and Users (OCU) has asked companies that pack oil and other foods that are not “100% olive” to avoid using “confusing” labels that could mislead their origin.
The OCU spokeswoman Ileana Izverniceanu has shown her understanding of the farmers’ complaints, although this practice is legal, and has stressed that the responsible brands “should eliminate photos that lead to confusion” such as claims or associations with olive trees or with Andalusia. which then are not exact.
He has recognized that, given the high prices of food, it is understandable that many consumers want to buy “cheaper” fats other than olive oil.
Izverniceanu has called on the Minister of Consumption, Alberto Garzón, and the head of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas, to “take a step forward” in favor of consumers and the national oil sector and “talk to the brands” that are mixing outside of Spain, among other actions.
