Meknes gendarmes seized several tons of adulterated olive oil from a press and arrested its owner.
During a raid on an olive press in Meknes, the gendarmes seized nearly 16,000 liters of potentially adulterated olive oil ready to be sold on the market, reports the Arabic-speaking daily Assabah. They also arrested the owner of the press and then questioned him. After samples of this oil were taken by the competent authorities, in coordination with the services of the National Food Safety Office (ONSSA), for analysis, the press was sealed.
The marketing of adulterated olive oil is observed when olive oil production is insufficient. This year, arborists predict a drastic drop in olive tree yields which could reach 80% compared to last year due to drought, lack of precipitation, heatwave, and chergui. The drop in supply irreversibly leads to a surge in the price of a liter of olive oil in cultural hotspots such as Beni Mellal, Taza, and El Kelaa des Sraghna. The price of a liter of oil varies between 75 and 80 dirhams. This price could exceed 100 dirhams this season in other cities in the kingdom due to the costs linked to the production and transport process.
