An investigation coordinated by the Lecce Prosecutor’s Office has uncovered a scheme involving sunflower oil mixed with ‘lampante’ oil – unfit for human consumption – being sold as extra virgin olive oil. This adulterated product was destined for meal services in primary schools, kindergartens, and elderly care facilities.
The probe, conducted by the Guardia di Finanza (Financial Police) with personnel from the Central Inspectorate for Quality Protection and Fraud Repression (Icqrf) of Puglia and Basilicata, concluded recently. It began following two separate seizures in the provinces of Lecce and Reggio Calabria. Authorities seized a bottling plant and over 6,000 litres of oil declared by a Calabrian producer as “extra virgin” olive oil, which was found to be fraudulent.
Central to the investigation is the company La Fenice srl, based in Galatone. This company held contracts with 38 municipalities in the Lecce province over recent years to supply meal services to schools. Investigations revealed that instead of using the required extra virgin or organic olive oil stipulated in contracts, La Fenice allegedly used blends of lower-grade olive oil of unknown origin or sunflower oil in its 25 cooking centres. At least 38 tonnes of this fraudulent oil were used during the 2023/2024 biennium, supplied cheaply by a complicit Calabrian entrepreneur.
The Lecce Prosecutor’s Office recently issued notices concluding preliminary investigations and informing three individuals (two entrepreneurs from Salento and one from Calabria) and one corporate entity of potential criminal charges. The suspected offences include fraud in public supplies and commerce, selling non-genuine food substances as genuine, and counterfeiting geographical indications or designations of origin for agri-food products.
Simultaneously, all affected municipalities were notified of the potential fraud.