The recent attribution of the IGP label (protected geographic indication) to a group of manufacturers has set fire to the powder. If the transformation is well done in Corsica, the pigs are imported.
“People no longer know if it is real or Corsican false charcuterie,” denounced Rémi Gallo, farmer-farm in Vero, at the microphone of TF1. A confusion skillfully maintained by attractive promotions: “3 sausages for € 10”, an offer far too good to be honest.
The chat rather than the terroir
The phenomenon far exceeds the borders of the island of beauty. Other emblematic sectors of French crafts are also traveled by fraud. This is the case for so -called “artisanal” cheeses sold on the markets. In many cases, the seller has never seen a farm in his life. These pseudos producer sellers are actually nothing other than chat professionals as they are encountered on fairs with so-called miracle products.
The techniques of deception are well established: presentation in bulk, without labeling, large “generously” cut stalls to increase the bill … These are very often industrial, labeled but downgraded cheeses, even copies of protected products. The consumer pays full pot for a product without the promised quality.
Criminal networks in the blow
Another victim of counterfeiting: the nougat of Montélimar. Flagship product of French gastronomic heritage, it is supposed to contain at least 25 % honey and 30 % of almonds. And costs between 30 and 45 € per kilo. But in the markets, some unscrupulous sellers do not even display prices. Result: songs sold up to € 80 per kilo, for a quality much lower than the standards.
Each year, the repression of fraud brings to light many cases of fraud on olive oil. This scourge does not affect only France. Recently, a joint operation between Italy and Spain allowed the seizure of 260,000 liters of counterfeit olive oil.
In question: the shortage of olives and the pricing, which attracted the lusts of criminal networks.
Same distrust on the side of so -called “local” honeys. In France, annual consumption exceeds 40,000 tonnes … while national production caps at 16,000. The gap is often filled by imported honeys, sometimes presented as 100 % artisanal. Worse, some honeys sold on the markets come from China, the world’s leading producer with 300,000 tonnes per year.
Fruit lovers: Watch out for false strawberries “Made in Belgium”!
