The Ayvalık Chamber of Commerce issued a warning to consumers against counterfeiting due to olive oil being the most common product in the list of food products subject to adulteration updated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

President Ali Uçar of the Ayvalık Chamber of Commerce told reporters that the Ayvalık district in Balıkesir has around 2 million olive trees, with 1 million 180 thousand of them over 300 years old and 81 registered monumental trees over 600 years old, making it a center where high-quality olive oil is produced. Uçar emphasized that the olive groves covering 169,262 hectares, making up 81.8% of agricultural land, have a reputation and importance that extends beyond Turkey in the field of olive cultivation due to the centuries-old history and culture in the district. Noting that Ayvalık has been known as the “olive oil capital” since the Ottoman era, Uçar said, “Ayvalık has earned a place in world literature with its elegance. The Ayvalık Chamber of Commerce was the first in its class to be the owner of the first ‘Ayvalık olive oil’ geographical indication in 2006 in Turkey, and again in its class, it has had the first accredited olive oil sensory analysis laboratory in 2014.” “PRODUCERS AND BUSINESSES’ EFFORTS ARE BEING STOLEN” Reminding that the harvest season starts every October, Uçar pointed out that not every olive oil with the term “Ayvalık” is actually “Ayvalık olive oil,” stressing the importance of opting for products with a geographical indication on the packaging. Emphasizing that according to the list announced by the Ministry, olive oil is the product most subjected to counterfeiting, Uçar continued, “Counterfeiting and adulteration are a significant issue not only in all food products but also in ‘Ayvalık olive oil.’ As the harvest season approaches, the raids and disclosure of adulterated lists carried out by the Ministry have once again brought this issue to light. This food counterfeiting, which is occasionally brought up in discussions, not only steals the efforts of producers but also harms our businesses’ brand values.”

BEWARE OF UNBRANDED PRODUCTS!

Consumers should definitely prefer products with geographical indications. The Ayvalık Chamber of Commerce, with its accredited analysis laboratory, monitors and monitors geographically indicated olive oils step by step both chemically and sensorially in accordance with the Turkish Food Codex. These geographically indicated products are safe. We announce these on the Ayvalık Chamber of Commerce website and social media platforms to consumers. It is very important to have even a small amount of knowledge about tasting olive oil. Consumers should always buy from reputable places. They should prefer products from branded places where the addresses are known, and where they find counterparts. We urge consumers not to choose unbranded products that are not properly stored in PET bottles, sold by the roadside under the name organic without any brand in any way.” Uçar stated that adulteration in products involves mixing cheaper vegetable and trans fats with olive oil and selling them as “virgin olive oil” or under different names. Uçar explained that fake products involve blending olive oil aromas with different chemical substances, aromas, and colorants to give the appearance of olive oil and releasing them in sealed packaging, with counterfeits mostly being sold under the name “Ayvalık.” Uçar emphasized that these counterfeit products that deceive consumers and endanger their health are mostly sold on social media and online trading sites, adding that sales of these products, which are primarily referred to as “underground,” should be stopped.