Food fraud exposed in italy: Chinese vegan snacks found with infected meat

In Italy, a shocking case of food fraud has come to light, revealing the alarming presence of infected meat in vegan snacks imported from China. The discovery has prompted the Italian Ministry of Health to initiate an extensive three-month monitoring plan to withdraw these products from the market.    

The investigation began in late November when the Naples Local Health Authority targeted five food retailers and their warehouses, leading to the seizure of 20 tons of various food products, including a batch of vegetarian snacks from China. What authorities uncovered was a dual labeling scheme, with one label in Chinese correctly indicating the presence of chicken and pork among the ingredients, and another in Italian falsely presenting the product as plant-based.    

Moreover, laboratory tests conducted later revealed that some meat samples were contaminated with African Swine Fever (ASF), a virus that poses a significant threat to animals. Although ASF is not transmissible to humans through direct contact or food consumption, humans can act as carriers of the virus.    

To ensure the safety and quality of food products sold in Italy, the national Ministry of Health has launched widespread inspections across all regions. These intensified efforts will continue until March, with the primary objective of identifying and removing any contaminated products from the market.    

Consumers are urged to remain vigilant and exercise caution when purchasing food products, particularly those labeled as vegan or vegetarian. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of strict regulatory measures and transparent labeling practices to protect public health and prevent fraudulent activities within the food industry.        

 

Source:  

ASL Napoli