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Counterfeit Olive Oil Scam Hits Moroccan Markets, Consumers at Risk
Wednesday 18 December 2019, by
Fake olive oils have appeared on the Moroccan market. Some unscrupulous merchants are taking advantage of the fact that this oil is highly prized in Moroccan cuisine to deceive the vigilance of consumers.
Olive oil, with its many virtues, plays a crucial role in Moroccan cuisine. It is used to add flavor to tagines, season salads or enhance certain savory pastries. It is an essential ingredient to have at home. Unfortunately, some merchants take advantage of this enthusiasm to sell counterfeit products, reports Al Massae.
Instead of pure olive oil, they sell a solution based on chemicals or a mixture of olive oil with sunflower oil. Consumers still can’t tell the difference. That’s why the Moroccan Association for Consumer Protection and Guidance (AMPOC) has called on Moroccan consumers not to be fooled by unscrupulous merchants.
While placing the responsibility on consumers, Chamseddine Abdati, president of the Moroccan Consumer Forum, calls on the Ministry of Agriculture and Maritime Fisheries, as well as the National Office of Food Safety (ONSSA), to discourage this practice through unannounced inspection visits, the same source indicates.