While olive oil prices continue to rise, reaching record levels, fraudulent practices in trading the product are also on the rise, says “JN” in today’s issue. The illegal sale of bottles without any label is widespread on the Internet, raising doubts about their origin and quality.

There are five-litre jars of “homemade olive oil” with “low acidity” costing just over €17, with sellers guaranteeing “free home delivery”. But the olive growing sector warns: Consumers are “buying a pig in a poke”.

On the “JN” programme, the Secretary General of the Portuguese Farmers’ Confederation (CAP), Luis Mira, warned customers to be wary of products sold without a label, as they are rarely of “quality”. “Do not make these types of purchases, because you are being scammed.”

Mariana Matos, secretary general of Casa do Azeite, says it is necessary to warn consumers that they are “buying a pig in a poke”. “They think they’re saving money, but they’re buying the most expensive oil out there, and it’s not olive oil.”

The Food and Economic Security Authority (ASAE) says it is paying attention and that the olive oil sector was “an operational priority”, given the importance of the product to the country’s economy and consumption. The Farmers’ Union of Portugal (CAP) said that a channel would be created to report the problem.