Fraud and counterfeiting operations continue to pose significant challenges for the olive oil industry. In Italy, one of the world’s largest olive oil producers, specialized police units are actively combating the illicit food trade, explicitly focusing on olive oil adulteration.

Genuine, high-quality olive oil is a prime target for criminal organizations. Counterfeit olive oil, falsely labeled as a PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) or PGI (Protected Geographical Indication), undermines legitimate producers and poses serious risks to consumer health.