Italians probe seven olive oil producers for extra-virgin fraud

Italian prosecutors are investigating seven olive oil producers for fraudulently selling ordinary olive oil as highly prized extra-virgin.

Prosecutors in Turin announced the investigation after customs officials independently confirmed the findings by the magazine Il Test, which published a cover story last spring revealing that nine out of 20 bottles it tested were not extra-virgin as labelled.

Turin police are examining whether seven companies, Carapelli, Bertolli, Santa Sabina, Coricelli, Sasso, Primadonna, which is packaged for Lidl, and Antica Badia, have been selling virgin olive oil as 100% extra virgin.