Tag: Italy
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EU Arrests Organized Crime Group Selling “Organic” Food Produced with Decomposed Apples
Eurojust, with Italian and Serbian national authorities, has arrested nine suspects allegedly perpetrating a “transnational large-scale fraud in the production and trade of allegedly organic food and beverages from rotten apples.” The apples were apparently used to create juice, jams and other canned food products adulterated with “mycotoxins and other toxic chemical substances, unsuitable for…
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Italians Dispute “Made in Italy” Definition in Food-Source Labeling Initiative
Italian food producers reportedly disagree on how to define whether a food product is “made in Italy” in accordance with the country’s attempt to distinguish food produced in Italy, such as parmesan cheese or prosecco, from similar foods produced outside of the country. The dispute centers on whether foods manufactured in Italy using foreign ingredients…
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Italy Proposes New COOL Rule for Pre-Packaged Foods
Italy has reportedly proposed new legislation that would require food manufacturers to include country-of-origin labeling (COOL) on all pre-packaged food labels or face fines of up to €18,000. Under the proposal, food-product labels must list an Italian address for the food’s production facility or indicate that the food is made outside of the country. Italy’s…
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Olive Oil Industry Group Sues Dr. Oz
The North American Olive Oil Association (NAOOA) has filed a lawsuit against Mehmet Oz of “The Dr. Oz Show” alleging he falsely told his audience in a May 2016 episode that 80 percent of olive oil sold in supermarkets is fraudulent. N. Am. Olive Oil Ass’n v. Oz, No. 283156 (Ga. Super. Ct., Fulton Cty.,…
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Italian Police Arrest Alleged Mafia Members in Bread-Selling Scheme
Italian police have reportedly arrested 24 people in an operation targeting the Lo Russo crime syndicate in connection with a scheme to intimidate grocers and supermarkets in Naples into buying bread at prices considerably higher than the market standard. The police also seized three bakeries allegedly identified as Lo Russo-controlled. The crime group reportedly forced…
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California Court Certifies Olive Oil Source, “Extra Virgin” Grade Mislabeling Suit
A California state court has certified a class challenging the source and grade of Safeway Inc.’s olive-oil products, which are labeled as “extra virgin” and “Imported from Italy” despite being manufactured from olives grown and pressed outside that country. Kumar v. Safeway Inc., No. RG14726707 (Cal. Super. Ct., Alameda Cty., order entered May 24, 2016).…
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Italian Police Investigate Alleged Olive Oil Fraud
Police in Turin, Italy, are reportedly investigating seven companies, including Bertolli, Carapelli and Santa Sabina—for allegedly selling “Extra Virgin” olive oils (EVOOs) that fail to meet EU standards to be labeled as such. The investigation was reportedly launched after consumer magazine Il Test notified the police of its taste-test results. The police then hired the…