The Dcoop cooperative sees the price of olive oil in stores and supermarkets at around six euros over the next few months. A scenario that would make effective a price reduction maintained over time and compared to the historical highs of the last year. An increase that, according to the complaint, some companies have taken advantage of – although they are not identified – to mix extra virgin with other varieties, such as pomace or sunflower. Therefore, it demands an investigation by both public administrations and the Prosecutor’s Office, to put an end to this type of practices.
As for prices, the cooperative believes that in the coming months, it can be around 6 euros in supermarkets, in the case of extra virgin, according to its general director of Dcoop, Rafael Sánchez de Puerta. “Let’s hope it doesn’t go down much more,” he stated in a meeting with the media. “The distribution has been quick to talk about the drop, it has announced reductions and there is no oil on the market” although “the campaign is starting now, that is going to be very fast.”
This Wednesday, the consumer association Facua has published an analysis that indicates that the liter of white label extra virgin olive oil has registered a drop of more than two euros in chains such as Eroski, Carrefour and Mercadona since October.
Specifically, Facua points out that the extra virgin of the Hacendado and Eroski brands has gone from 9.13 euros at the beginning of October, to 6.75 euros (2.38 euros less), while the liter of Carrefour extra virgin has dropped from 9.11 to 6.74 euros (2.37 euros less) during the last month.
The president of Dcoop, Antonio Luque, has pointed out that the price reduction for December, January and beyond cannot be specified because it will depend on how consumption and the campaign evolve. Also, that at origin – the price paid to producers – is already five euros and can continue to be reduced. “It can go down one more euro, but it is impossible for it to go down two or three euros,” he assured. Also, it is expected that this year the harvest will reach 1.3 million tons. Which would allow us to return to normal figures after two disastrous years.
Denounce the mixtures
The president of the oil cooperative has attacked the companies that have taken advantage of the price increase to mix oils, for example, virgin olive, with pomace or even with sunflower, without indicating it on the labeling and without complying with the traceability of the product.
“There are oil companies that are doing it and we know it,” he assured without giving names. He denounces it, he assures, so that the Spanish sector recovers “leadership in image” and gets all actors to defend the same thing.
“We have no evidence to report, we have indications,” he clarified. Therefore, he requests that it be investigated. “That administrations of all types put an end” to this practice, in reference to the state and regional governments. He assumes that they are products that can comply with the oil analysis – because they may allow some type of mixture – but considers that it is “a fraud, because pomace or sunflower oil is mixed” with extra virgin without informing the buyer.
The company also points out that these types of practices originated in Italy and have been copied in other markets, such as Spain; while there it has already been controlled thanks to improved traceability.
Regarding operations outside Spain, the cooperative demands that the European Union prevent the future Donald Trump Government from imposing new tariffs, for example, on olive oil, as it already did with olives.
He demands that “there be a response from the EU, that it is up to the task” and announce some reciprocity measure if the future Republican Administration makes new tariffs effective. That is, to say “if you post them, we will respond,” said the general director of Dcoop with the goal of preventing them from becoming a reality.
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