00:00DEBUNKING VIRAL CLAIMS ABOUT SPANISH OLIVE OIL
00:02Several viral online claims are suggesting that Spanish olive oil is being secretly mixed
00:11with Moroccan oil. Others say that the government is preparing to recall olive oil products from
00:15the market due to overproduction. One of these claims is false and the other only partially
00:21true. Spain is the world's largest producer of olive oil, responsible for nearly half
00:25of global output. The sector generates billions of euros each year and provides tens of
00:29thousands of jobs, so any suggestion of fraud or disruption quickly sparks public concern.
00:34The first claim that major brands such as Carbonell, Ojiblanga and Coipe use Moroccan olives
00:39is unfounded. The confusion came from labels mentioning olives sourced inside and outside
00:44the EU. The reason for this is that in 2022 and 2023, after drought and extreme heat hit
00:50Spanish crops, these companies blended oil from Chile, Argentina and Tunisia, a common practice
00:56in the sector. But Morocco was never among the suppliers and since 2025, these brands have
01:02returned to using exclusively Spanish olives, with new transparency measures like QR codes
01:07showing the product's origins. The second claim has a kernel of truth, but the claim that
01:11Spanish olive oil will be immediately recalled on the government's orders is false. Spain's
01:16agriculture ministry is indeed considering a legal mechanism that would allow the withdrawal
01:20of olive oil from the market if harvests are too abundant. The goal is to stabilise prices,
01:26prevent speculation and protect both farmers and consumers. But the measure, which is based
01:30on EU and national laws, has not yet been approved. It would have to get the green light before
01:35October 31st and would only apply to the 2025-2026 campaign if overproduction is clearly confirmed.
01:43Two major farming groups, COAG and UBA, sport the idea, arguing it would stabilise prices and protect
01:48small producers. Still, the proposal is not even finalised yet and experts believe it is unlikely
01:54to be used this year because production levels may not be high enough to trigger it.
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