00:00Debunking Viral Claims About Spanish Olive Oil
00:02Several viral online claims are suggesting that Spanish olive oil is being secretly mixed with Moroccan oil.
00:12Others say that the government is preparing to recall olive oil products from the market due to overproduction.
00:18One of these claims is false and the other only partially true.
00:21Spain is the world's largest producer of olive oil, responsible for nearly half of global output.
00:26The sector generates billions of euros each year and provides tens of thousands of jobs,
00:30so any suggestion of fraud or disruption quickly sparks public concern.
00:34The first claim that major brands such as Carbonell, Ojiblanga and Coype use Moroccan olives is unfounded.
00:40The confusion came from labels mentioning olives sourced inside and outside the EU.
00:45The reason for this is that in 2022 and 2023, after drought and extreme heat hit Spanish crops,
00:51these companies blended oil from Chile, Argentina and Tunisia, a common practice in the sector.
00:57But Morocco was never among the suppliers and since 2025, these brands have returned to using exclusively Spanish olives,
01:04with new transparency measures like QR codes showing the product's origins.
01:08The second claim has a kernel of truth, but the claim that Spanish olive oil will be immediately recalled on the government's orders is false.
01:15Spain's agricultural ministry is indeed considering a legal mechanism that would allow the withdrawal of olive oil from the market if harvests are too abundant.
01:24The goal is to stabilise prices, prevent speculation and protect both farmers and consumers.
01:29But the measure, which is based on EU and national laws, has not yet been approved.
01:33It would have to get the green light before October 31st and would only apply to the 2025-2026 campaign if overproduction is clearly confirmed.
01:42Two major farming groups, Koag and Uba, sport the idea, arguing it would stabilise prices and protect small producers.
01:49Still, the proposal is not even finalised yet and experts believe it is unlikely to be used this year because production levels may not be high enough to trigger it.
Commenti