La Guardia Civil of Alicante has investigated two men aged 47 and 57 in an operation named “Sticker” for allegedly selling fruit in street markets that had been discarded from human consumption and designated for animal feed.
The investigation into the fraudulent sale of produce as protected Plátano de Canarias stems from earlier observations by the Nature Protection Service (SEPRONA) of the Alicante Command. Agents tracked a wholesale operator delivering rejected bananas and other fruits to livestock operations, according to abc.es reporting.
Two Men Face Charges for Selling Contaminated Fruit
- Two men aged 47 and 57 face charges involving public health, market regulations, and industrial property after selling animal-feed fruit in local markets.
- Investigators traced more than 133 tonnes of discarded fruit delivered to a livestock farm over the preceding year, with 69 tonnes specifically involving Plátano de Canarias.
- Authorities seized 167 kilograms of protected-brand bananas during inspections across Alicante and Valencia markets, noting severe contamination risks from unhygienic storage near livestock manure.
Agents Traced Fruit Deliveries to a Livestock Farm
Agents discovered that a wholesale operator supplied discarded fruit intended for animals to agricultural holdings. Reviewing delivery documentation, investigators identified an ovino and caprino farm receiving remarkably high quantities of fruit despite housing very few animals, and sometimes none at all, as reported by abc.es.
The retrieved produce was taken to an operation in Torrellano, located in Elche, Alicante. From there, a second individual loaded the items into a van to sell them in markets across Alicante and Valencia, presenting them as Plátano de Canarias using original branded packaging.
According to COPE, the fruit was stored on the livestock farm directly alongside animals and their excrement under zero hygiene standards. COPE notes that the transport occurred in an uncleaned agricultural vehicle, and the food was repackaged after being pulled from the human supply chain.
Seizures and Charges Filed in Elche
Quantifying the scope of the diversion, the investigation determined that the farm’s owner received over 133 tonnes of fruit in the year leading up to the inspection, including 69 tonnes of Plátano de Canarias, alongside discarded tomatoes from an agricultural operation.
During the operation, officers intervened and seized 167 kilograms of bananas falsely marketed under the protected designation. The two suspects have been placed at the disposal of the Investigation Section of the Court of Instance of Elche, facing charges against public health, consumer markets, and industrial property.
The Guardia Civil emphasized that items removed from human consumption for animal feed cannot legally re-enter the human food chain. Authorities noted that unauthorized use of geographical indications harms both misled consumers and compliant producers.
