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Lidl and Bertolli fined €550k for fake ‘extra virgin’ olive oil

The first of the recently increased sanctions against 'deceitful' olive oil have been handed out, with discount supermarket Lidl and Deoleo - the owners of the popular Bertolli brand - hit hard.

Published: 29 June 2016 12:41 CEST

Lidl and Bertolli fined €550k for fake 'extra virgin' olive oil

Photo: Dave Fayram/Flickr

Lidl was hit by a fine of €550,000 by Italy's antitrust authority, which found that its Primadonna brand of extra virgin olive oil was incorrectly labelled, consumer magazine Consumatrici reported.

Meanwhile Spanish company Deoleo received a €300,000 fine for branding malpractice after some of its Bertolli, Sasso and Carapelli 'extra virgin' oils were found to be simply 'virgin olive oil', a lower grade of olive. The oils in question were Bertolli gentile, Sasso classico and Carapelli il frantolio.

The investigation into the quality of extra virgin oil on sale in Italy began back in 2015. An investigation by a consumers' magazine analysed the extra virgin olive oil produced by 20 of the most popular brands, and found that nine of them falsely claimed to be extra virgin.

Olive oil is a staple in the Mediterranean diet, and extra virgin oils use the most time-consuming and expensive production method.

READ MORE: Like a virgin – How to spot fake extra virgin olive oil

The penalties for false or misleading labelling of olive oil were increased significantly this month, as part of a long-running campaign to protect the quality of Italian olive oils. Incorrect or missing information regarding the category of olive used can now see manufacturers hit with fines of up to €15,000 for each breach, compared to €2,500 previously.

Another law comes into force from July 1st, increasing the fines for 'country sounding' – using symbols or images associated with a country where the olives didn't come from. Manufacturers falling foul of this rule could be fined €18,000, up from €2,000 – and the fine applies even if the label correctly states the origin.

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Six of the most Italian non-alcoholic aperitivo drinks

Italy’s favourite aperitivo-hour cocktails are known far beyond the country’s borders, so their names will probably be familiar to you whether you drink them or not.

But if you’re in Italy and not drinking alcohol, you might find yourself stumped when it comes time to order your aperitivo at the bar.

The first time I found myself in this situation, there was no menu. The waiter instead rattled off a long list of all the soft drinks available, most of which I’d never heard of, and I just picked something I thought sounded nice.

Luckily it turns out that Italy has some great options for an aperitivo analcolico. As well as ‘virgin’ versions of well-known cocktails, there are bitters, sodas and other Italian-made soft drinks that you’re unlikely to find anywhere else.

They might not be quite as iconic as the Aperol Spritz, but they’re as thoroughly Italian – plus, effortlessly ordering one of these will make you look like a true local.

SanBittèr

San Pellegrino’s SanBittèr is one of the most famous non-alcoholic Italian drinks of all, with its highly-recognisable red packaging, often enjoyed in place of Campari cocktails because of its similar dark, ruby-red color.

This drink is carbonated with a slightly sweet, citrus flavor. The recipe is more complex than that of an orange or lemon soda, with notes of spice and herbs, making it ideal to pair with your aperitivo-hour snacks.

Crodino

Crodino looks a lot like an Aperol Spritz with its bright orange hue, and that’s not an accident: it’s said to have been created as a non-alcoholic alternative, and the zesty, slightly herbal taste is similar. It’s typically served the same way. in a round goblet glass over ice with a slice of orange: a Crodino Spritz.

The name comes from the town of Crodo in Piedmont, where it is still bottled today by the Campari group.

Chinotto

Citrusy Chinotto is an acquired taste for many, but it’s worth trying: it’s one of the classic Italian bitters and is said to have a long history, dating back to a recipe shared by Chinese sailors arriving on the Ligurian coast in the 1500s.

It may look a little like Coca Cola, but don’t let the appearance fool you.

(Photo by Eugene Gologursky /Getty Images via AFP)

Aranciata/Limonata

Aranciata is Italy’s version of an orange soda, but not as sugary, and it tastes like oranges. Its base is sparkling water with the addition of orange juice and sugar. There are various brands, but San Pellegrino’s is the most popular. It also sells a ‘bitter’ aranciata amaro, with even less sugar, more citrus tang and herbal notes, which might be more aperitivo-hour appropriate.

Limonata is, as you might guess, the Italian answer to lemonade. Again there are many versions out there but the fizzy San Pellegrino limonata is beloved for its strong, sweet-sour flavour and there’s nothing more refreshing on a hot summer’s day.

Cedrata

Cedrata is one of Italy’s oldest and best-known non-alcoholic drinks. It’s a refreshing, carbonated drink made from a large citrus fruit called a cedro, grown in southern Italy. It’s far less bitter than a Chinotto, but not as sweet as limonata.

The main producer of Cedrata today is Tassoni, and this is what you’re likely to get if you order it at a bar.

Gingerino

This is harder to find than the other aperitivi on the list and is seen as decidedly retro, but it’s worth trying if you can track it down.

It’s another orange-coloured, sparkling drink which became popular in Italy in the 1970s and is still sold today, though you’re more likely to find it in the north-east, close to Venice, where it’s produced.

You may be expecting it to taste a lot like ginger beer, and there are similarities, but it has stronger citrus notes and more bitterness.

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