As the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry began to expose businesses selling imitation and adulterated products, it was revealed that one of the most adulterated foods was olive oil. With nearly 2 million olive trees, 1 million 180 thousand of them over 300 years old, and 81 monumental trees over 600 years old, 61 of which are registered, the people of Ayvalık, the capital of olive oil, are in trouble with fake olive oil sellers. Producers who say that public health is being played with by using their own names, It also says that its products have geographical indication registration. Counterfeit products that deceive consumers and play with their health are mostly produced and sold in underhand places on social media and online trading sites.
DO NOT TRUST EVERY STATEMENT
Ayvalık Chamber of Commerce President Ali Uçar, who gave information about the imitation, adulteration and counterfeit products that are mostly offered for sale with the phrase ‘Ayvalık’ olive oil, said: “Not every olive oil with the phrase ‘Ayvalık’ is ‘Ayvalık Olive Oil’. “While the consumer is deceived and their health is manipulated, the producer also suffers great losses,” he said. Uçar stated that adulteration in olive oil is the sale of vegetable oils, seed oils, which are cheaper than olive oil, oils such as sunflower, which are similar to olive oil, as well as trans fats, by mixing them with olive oil and selling them as extra virgin olive oil or different olive oil.
THE YEAR OF OLIVE OIL
Uçar explained that counterfeit products are mixed with different chemicals, aromas and colorants to give the appearance of olive oil and put on the market in closed packages, and added that counterfeit products are packaged and sold using the name of the Ayvalık region. flies, This year is the year of olive production, He added that therefore, they will have a fruitful season in olive oil and there will be a 15-30 percent decline in packaged oil sales.
THEY ARE TRYING TO MISLEAD
Agricultural engineer Mesut Özmenay shared the information about fake olive oils that low-cost oils or other vegetable oils can be mixed with olive oil. Özmenay, especially the use of the names of famous olive oil producing countries on the labels, He said that it was an issue that could mislead consumers. Stating that refined olive oils may have lower quality, Özmenay stated that these products are often sold only as “olive oil”.
MUST BE SOLD IN A GLASS BOTTLE
Pointing out that olives processed at high temperatures may negatively affect the aroma and nutritional value of olive oil, Özmenay suggested to consumers that “Olive oil labels should be examined carefully; origin information, process type (cold pressing or hot pressing), quality degree and brand information should be checked” while shopping. Stating that quality olive oil may differ in terms of taste and aroma, Özmenay said that when purchasing olive oil, Stating that glass bottles should be chosen, He concluded his statements with the following words: “Because glass is light and air tight, this protects the quality of olive oil better.”
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