Due to counterfeiting, violations, and safety issues, the Brazilian government bans the sale of 25 olive oil brands.

According to a report by G1, the Ministry of Agriculture and the General Health Surveillance Agency have been maintaining a list of prohibited brands and batches, with some brands appearing on both lists. The most recent ban involves batches of the brands Royal, Godio, La Vitta, and Santa Lucia, which were deemed non-compliant by the Ministry of Agriculture on Wednesday (12th). Sampling tests showed that these olive oils contained edible oils from other plants, constituting adulteration. Therefore, they are considered unfit for consumption.

According to the Brazilian federal government, the main reasons for the prohibition of olive oil brands include: importation or distribution by companies without a registration number in Brazil; adulterated or counterfeit products; products containing other vegetable oils; production or storage facilities that do not meet sanitary requirements; labels that do not comply with regulations; failure to obtain the necessary licenses from the competent health authorities; and unclear product origin or composition.

The Ministry of Agriculture warns that selling adulterated olive oil is a serious violation, and merchants selling these products may face penalties. If consumers have already purchased these products, the government advises: to stop consuming them immediately; to request a replacement from the merchant according to the Consumer Protection Code.

Reports about these products can be submitted through the official platform Fala.BR.

The Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture advises consumers to be vigilant about products with very low prices; not to buy bulk olive oil; and to check if the brand has been banned or listed as counterfeit.

How to check if a product is on Anvisa's counterfeit list? Anvisa provides a search tool on its website, allowing consumers to enter the brand name and check if a product is non-compliant or counterfeit: enter the brand name in the "Produto" (Product) field in the tool.

How to check if a company is registered with the Ministry of Agriculture?

The "General Classification Registration System" (CGC, Cadastro Geral de Classificação) allows consumers to check if the distributor, importer, or producer of olive oil is registered with the Ministry of Agriculture.

To check, enter the company name in the "Estabelecimento" (Establishment) field on the tool page.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture regulations, all companies involved in the processing, industrialization, handling, or packaging of olive oil must have a CGC registration and be subject to regulation.