The National Administration of Medicines, Foods and Medical Technology (ANMAT) of Argentina has banned the sale and distribution of a counterfeit sunflower oil that was on the market under the recognized brand Cocinero, with a label stating 'gluten-free' and in 1.5-liter packaging. This measure was communicated through Disposition 1005/2025 published in the Official Gazette of the country.
The investigation was initiated following a complaint from the original company, Molinos Río de la Plata S.A., which alerted to the presence of oil using its brand without authorization. The complaint was submitted to the National Food Institute (INAL) upon detecting the marketing of a counterfeit product under the name of its brand Cocinero.
According to the company, there are notable differences between the genuine oil packaging and the counterfeit. For example, in the authentic product, the lot number and packaging date are laser-etched and follow the day/month/year format, while the counterfeit uses an inkjet system and the year/month/day format. Additionally, spelling errors have been identified in the description of the manufacturing process of the counterfeit product.
Furthermore, the original packaging features identifiers such as the blown mold number, the PET initials, and the recycling symbol, which are absent in the counterfeit packaging. The height of the bottle, the type of plastic, and the material resistance also differ between the genuine and counterfeit packaging.
In light of this situation, ANMAT advises consumers who possess this suspicious oil not to consume it and to report its marketing to local health authorities. It is also recommended that stores and distributors immediately remove this product from their shelves to avoid possible sanctions, as it is a counterfeit product without health registrations, meaning its traceability, manufacturing conditions, and safety cannot be guaranteed.
