By Prensa Latina
Rome : Italy announced total removal of several lots of buffalo mozzarella contaminated with dioxin, a measure which left the European Union satisfied Friday.
Italian Foreign Minister Massimo D´ Alema confirmed removal of the product from the market, since it did not fulfil EU community regulations, and he assured they would work to restore confidence of consumers of the product.
D´ Alema reasserted the Italian Executive is working to revalorize the product, fundamental for the economy of Campania, southeast of Italy, where at least 25 factories produced contaminated food.
He assured this is an isolated phenomenon, and that several specialized units of the Italian police (Carabineers) checked cheese factories in the Italian cities of Caserta, Naples and Avellino.
Up to now, 83 establishments dedicated to breeding of buffalos which is expected have eaten contaminated fodder close to illegal trash deposits were closed, and more than 100 people are being investigated.
Sources from the European Commission assured that in relation with the Italian mozzarella cheese there are no reasons to proceed at EU level since the dioxin found does not represent immediate risks for human health.
The EU Commission had warned Italy with a restriction of the product at regional level because of the infection, but now, it showed satisfaction with the recent measures by the Italian government.
According to Nina Papadoulaki, spokeswoman of the EU Commissioner for Sanitation, it is required to be exposed to excessive consumption of the product and going over from 5 to 10 times the admitted amount of dioxin to be affected, and this is not the case.