Welcome to the latest episode of Unlocking Your Greatness with Wendy Bjork.
As an international bestselling author, inspirational speaker and founder of heartsofwellness.com, it is my mission to empower women to build a strong Foundation of Wellbeing: One Whole-istic™ Step at a Time.
To feel HOPE: harmony, options, peace and empowerment to help others along the way.
Why is Olive Oil Controlled by the Italian Mafia?
The olive oil industry is a multi-billion dollar business, but there’s a dark side to this lucrative trade. CBS’ 60 Minutes reported that this highly profitable business is being flooded with adulterated, fake olive oil – and mafiosos are involved at every stage of the supply chain.
The Mafia has long had a hand in the olive oil market, with mob members known to engage in extortion, fraud and even adulteration. It’s not uncommon for mafia families to control entire production and distribution chains. And, with the current high price of olive oil, this is a good way for criminals to make money.
A recent operation in Spain and Italy by police forces like the Guardia Civil and the Carabinieri, uncovered an international gang that tampered with low-quality oil from Greece and Spain and then sold it as “primo Italian extra virgin olive oil.” They would even alter the labels to appear authentic. The crime ring was busted in an operation called ‘Mama Mia,’ and it involved the same mobsters that controlled the mafia’s traditional rackets like gambling, protection rackets, and prostitution.
Using a process known as fractionation, the criminals mixed low-quality oils with more expensive ones to create a cheaper product. They also used sand and sawdust to thicken the oil, as well as chemical additives to give it a greener hue and more flavor and aroma. They then sold this fake olive oil in containers labeled with “extra virgin olive oil” at prices that are up to three times higher than the real thing.
In addition to the financial damage, these crimes have a serious impact on the integrity of the olive oil sector. It takes a lot of hard work and skill to produce quality olive oil, but these criminals are tampering with the product and diluting its purity. This damages the reputation of the genuine olive oil producers and removes consumers from the true benefits that come from the natural fruit. The mobsters are also fragmenting the supply chain by mixing bulk oils, which means the original farmers and producers are not getting any tangible profits from their hard work.
While the mafia has a strong grip on the agri-business, a number of anti-mafia groups are working to root out the problem. These groups, including the Anti-Mafia Investigative Directorate and Addiopizzo, are partnering with local authorities to eradicate the mobsters’ influence over the industry.
The mobsters that run the agro-mafia know exactly how to manipulate the industry. Their network of contacts allows them to get away with criminal acts such as bribing agricultural officials and paying smugglers. Their illegal actions have a negative effect on the genuine farmers who stick to traditional methods and can’t compete with the low prices of the mobsters.
It’s important to support the legitimate farmers that are trying to fight back against the mobsters and their immoral practices. Don’t support counterfeiting and choose to buy only certified, authentic US based or verified Italian olive oil.
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