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Morocco’s Food Safety Office Debunks Olive Oil Health Risk Rumors
Monday 28 October 2019, by
The rumors circulated on social networks that the olive fly would have had an impact on the safety of olive products in northern Morocco are false and unfounded. Through a press release, the Regional Directorate of Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima of the National Office of Food Safety (ONSSA) refuted these allegations, while reassuring consumers.
In a press release from ONSSA, it was clearly stated that the consumption of olive oil produced in the olive oil processing units approved by ONSSA does not pose any danger to the health of consumers.
The ONSSA services operating in the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region have, according to the same press release, carried out several prospecting tours in the olive groves pointed out by the rumors.
This nevertheless made it possible to note that the olives of certain farmers, in the provinces of Larache and Ouezzane, have been affected by this fly, the same source specified, noting that these services have informed all the parties concerned and the farmers have been made aware of the need to treat the olive trees to fight against this insect.
The olive fly is rampant in all the countries of the Mediterranean and causes damage in the olive groves if the necessary precautions are not taken.
And this is the fight led, among others, by ONSSA, which is a public institution under the supervision of the Ministry of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development and Water and Forests, and which exercises, on behalf of the State, the attributions relating to the protection of consumer health and the preservation of animal and plant health, it is specified.