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Australian popular brands sell fake oregano

Reporter: Greg Navarro 丨 CCTV.com

04-26-2016 14:36 BJT

Australian consumers are being warned about fake herbs - following tests on a dozen popular brands of oregano. Europol, the EU law enforcement and intelligence agency, says food fraud is a global, multi-billion dollar business. Not only does it deceive consumers, it can also pose serious health risks.

With a nickname like Herbie.You would expect Ian Hemphill to know his herbs which is exactly what one of Australia’s foremost experts on herbs and spices is known for.

And with more than 45 years in the industry. He’s seen his share of food fraud.

“It’s not at all unusual for a spice to be cut with something else,” he said.

Australian consumer advocacy group, "Choice", is also concerned with food fraud - and recently set its sights on the popular kitchen staple - oregano.

"We went out to supermarkets, grocers, pulled 12 popular brands of oregano from the shelves and we sent it off to be tested," said Tome Godfrey, spokesman,Choice.

Choice found that 7 of those brands contained less than 50% oregano - one had less than 10%.

“It came back that these products were being cut with sumac and olive leaves. it was a surprise to us and also it was a surprise to the companies because when we took the results to the companies they were shocked," Godfrey said.

Consumer advocates say all of this raises a disturbing question. What else in our pantries and our fridges isn’t really what we paid for?

Europol is in the midst of a global investigation across almost 60 countries.

It’s uncovered olives painted green with copper sulphate in Italy, duck meat being passed off as goose liver in Hungary, and confiscated monkey meat in Belgium.

So far, it’s uncovered more than 100,000 tonnes of counterfeit food and drinks - from a multi-billion dollar criminal industry.

"The fact is this is food fraud and it is food fraud on a very big scale," Godfrey said.

That fraud can also prove deadly.

In 2008, milk powder tainted with melamine killed 6 infants and sickened hundreds of thousand more in China.

Choice wants to see more herbs and spices tested. Ian Hemphill agrees - and says consumers can also play a part.

"It’s a fair bit of buyer beware - you’ve got to understand what you are buying and the company you are purchasing from," he said.

Choice’s findings have been referred to a government commission for further investigation.

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