World
60 Minutes, the most successful program in U.S. television history, will delve into the adulteration of extra virgin olive oil in Italy and mafia involvement in the agricultural sector. With an average audience of 12.2 million, the broadcast will draw unprecedented attention to the issue of olive oil quality and authenticity.
See Also:The World’s Best Olive Oils, Official NYIOOC Ranking
The segment, which will air Sunday, January 3 at 7:30 PM Eastern Time (00:30 UTC) features a look by CBS News correspondent Bill Whitaker at the Carabinieri unit of tasters trained to detect counterfeit oils. “They can tell at first sip whether extra virgin been diluted with cheap sunflower oil or canola,” Whitaker says.
In its vigorous effort to defend Italian extra virgin olive oil that has proved to be “a favorite target of the agromafia,” 60 specially trained officers make up the tasting panel and 1,100 more are in the field conducting investigations into food fraud throughout the country, the report says. “We can call ourselves the FBI of food,” Sergio Tirro of the Carabinieri tells Whitaker.
Last month a massive fraud was unmasked by the State Forestry Corps, and the Anti-Mafia Directorate of Bari, which discovered that 7,000 tons of olive oil sold as ‘100% Italian’ extra virgin olive oil were actually blended oils from non-EU countries such as Syria, Turkey, Morocco and Tunisia.
See Also:Articles on Olive Oil Fraud
The oil was sold on the Italian and international markets labeled ‘100 percent Italian’ with a value estimated to be in the “tens of millions of euros,” according to the Forestry Corps.
Italian extra virgin olive oil commands a premium price in markets around the world due to the longstanding prestige of the brand. The 60 Minutes segment is the latest in a series of widely publicized examinations of criminal activities exploiting the perceived value of ‘Made in Italy’ food products.
More articles on: Italy, Made in Italy, olive oil adulteration
Dec. 12, 2023
Authorities in Brazil Seize 9,000 Bottles of Fraudulent Olive Oil
The seizure comes two weeks after a separate raid where 16,000 liters of product marketed as extra virgin olive oil and deemed unfit for human consumption was destroyed.
Nov. 15, 2023
Trade Group Announces Olive Oil Quality Testing Initiative
Faced with low supply and high prices, the North American Olive Oil Association says it seeks to deter dishonest actors.
Feb. 29, 2024
Authorities Identify Xylella Strain Infecting Vines, Almonds in Puglia
The new variant was detected in a region already severely affected by Xylella fastidiosa pauca.
Jul. 5, 2023
Initiative in Italy to Restore Olive Cultivation in The Apennines
The 1,200-kilometer mountain chain is home to 207,000 hectares of abandoned olive groves which could substantially increase Italian olive oil production.
Apr. 9, 2024
Legacy Meets Innovation at Tuscany’s Azienda Pometti
The latest generation of farmers at the 600-year-old Azienda Pometti is using state-of-the-art methods to produce award-winning, sustainable olive oil.
May. 30, 2023
Patience and Investment Yield Award-Winning Olive Oil from Hills of Verona
The Cordioli family continues to overcome climatic challenges to produce their extra virgin olive oils in one of the world’s northernmost olive-growing regions.
Feb. 26, 2024
New Law in Italy Establishes Role of Farmers in Protecting Environment
Along with protecting Italy’s natural landscapes and promoting the cultivation of traditional crops, the law seeks to curb the rural exodus with economic incentives.
Apr. 16, 2024
Small Producers, Oleotourism Take Center Stage at Ercole Olivario
The winners of the main competition will participate in the Shelf Life Monitoring Project, which will help improve best practices for producers and consumers.