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Oil sold as olive oil on social media: ASAE seizes 10,000 liters in nationwide operation

There's a reason why good olive oil costs what it costs. And there's a reason why it's worth every penny.


The news that came out this week should serve as a warning to everyone who buys olive oil online without knowing exactly what they're putting on their table.


ASAE detects fraud: 10,000 liters of oil sold as virgin olive oil


The Food and Economic Security Authority (ASAE) carried out a crime prevention operation in the vicinity of Moimenta da Beira, in the district of Viseu, which confirmed the fraudulent sale of common cooking oil labeled and marketed as virgin olive oil through social media. (Source: ASAE Press Release, March 5, 2026)


The operation, which involved 13 search warrants—both residential and non-residential—resulted in the seizure of approximately 10,000 liters of fraudulently labeled cooking oil, thousands of labels and packaging material indicating "virgin olive oil," as well as 340 liters of unregistered fortified wine, four firearms, and €200,000 in cash that the suspects attempted to hide in brambles on adjacent land during the operation. Three suspects were formally charged. (Source: ASAE Press Release; Jornal de Negócios)


How does this happen — and why does it matter to know


Oil

The olive oil market is one of the most targeted by food fraud across Europe. When the price of a bottle of quality extra virgin olive oil reflects manual harvesting, native varieties, sensory analysis, and full traceability, the consumer searching for "virgin olive oil for 3 euros" on social media is almost always buying something else.


ASAE itself warns: be wary of offers of olive oil at prices below expectations, which may result in the sale of other oleic substances instead of olive oil. (Source: ASAE Press Release, March 5, 2026)


This is not an isolated case. The European Court of Auditors identified, in a recent report, gaps in olive oil quality control systems in several Member States, including traceability difficulties in olive oils of mixed origin and failures in online sales controls.


How to buy olive oil with a guarantee of authenticity


Signs that you are buying genuine olive oil


For consumers and tourists who want to be sure of what they are taking home, these are the criteria that never fail:


  • PDO or PGI: a protected designation of origin is the first guarantee of territory and method.

  • Producer identified: name, address and contact information on the label — not just a generic brand.

  • Harvest date: not just expiration date — knowing when it was produced is essential.

  • Realistic price: quality extra virgin olive oil rarely costs less than €8 to €10/liter.

  • Transparent sales channel: physical stores, cooperatives, certified producers, or platforms with verifiable traceability.


The power to buy at the source


There is no safer — or richer — way to guarantee the authenticity of olive oil than to visit its origins. In Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, the producers partnered with Azeite a Norte work with native varieties, using audited processes and, now in some cases, digital traceability that allows consumers to know the complete journey of the olive to the bottle.


👉 Explore our Producers and Olive Tourism Routes and find out where to buy olive oil with the guarantee of the producer.


Fraud harms those who work honestly


Every liter of oil sold as olive oil is an affront to those who, in Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, get up early to harvest, respect the olive groves, and deliver a product of proven excellence. It is also a betrayal of the consumer—and, in the case of gastronomic tourism, a threat to the credibility of a region.


Choosing well is also an act of supporting those who do good.


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