Lang
Local authorities in Tangier, in coordination with the National Office for Food Safety (ONSSA), have stepped up efforts after quantities of olive oil began circulating at suspiciously low prices. The move followed reports that oil was being sold in plastic bottles of unknown origin, with no labelling or explanatory information.
Specialised committees seized large quantities of the oil and destroyed them using waste disposal trucks, as the products failed to meet applicable safety standards. Growing warnings have been issued to consumers about the potential health risks, particularly given that the products were being marketed under unlicensed brands and heavily promoted on social media.
The intervention coincided with observations that olive oil was being sold for as little as 30 dirhams per litre, while the genuine product typically costs more than 90 dirhams. This large price gap has raised widespread doubts about the quality of the oil on offer, especially since the olive harvest season has not yet begun in most parts of Morocco.
Industry professionals in the olive oil sector confirm that quantities sold at such prices cannot possibly come from the new season's production. They believe the oil is likely adulterated or blended with unknown substances, noting that even "fitour" oil, extracted from olive residue, is not sold at such a low price.
Source: Al Mal Forum