March 24, 2008

Italy's Campania assures safety of dairy products, after toxic cheese scare

Makers of Italy's prized buffalo cheese from southern Campania region assured consumers of the safety of their products after high levels of dioxin were found in some samples of buffalo milk.

The region's reputation as a top agricultural producer has been tarnished with the latest reports on food contamination.

Dioxin is a chemical environmental pollutant which can be hazardous even in small amounts. When it accumulates in the body, it can be linked to cancer, birth defects and organ failure.

Italian authorities have searched dozens of buffalo dairies and seized milk samples for tests after higher-than-permitted levels of dioxin were discovered in products from 29 mozzarella makers, news reports said.

On Friday, buffalo mozzarella makers in Campania took out full-page ads in Corriere della Sera and other national newspapers outlining the system of controls that are in place for its top-branded mozzarella, which carries the designation DOP, meaning it has certain protection and quality guarantees.

The Italian agricultural lobby Coldiretti called for a speedy investigation to determine which dairies were to blame as buffalo mozzarella is such an important brand domestically and internationally.

Coldiretti said 33,000 tonnes, worth EUR300 million (US$462.69 million), of DOP mozzarella is produced annually.

Most DOP mozzarella is consumed in Italy, but 16 percent is exported, mostly to European countries and also to Japan and Russia.