Police on Thursday seized a
creamery in the southern Campania region that allegedly produced
mozzarella cheese without using milk.
The cheese factory in Serre near Salerno contained large
quantities of curd from eastern Europe and cheese items made by
other producers or deriving from the large-scale retail trade,
some of which had passed their expiry date or were in a state of
decay.
Investigators claim these products were combined to produce
the mozzarella and chemicals added to make it more appetizing.
Some 700 kg of untraceable dairy products and others still
under production were also seized under the operation, which was
carried out by the carabinieri command for health protection
(NAS).
Police also said some products were smoked in a disused van
using fumes produced by burning waste.
The owner of the cheese factory has been reported for
possession of food products in a poor state of conservation and
destined for commercial fraud.
He also faces charges of environmental crimes related to
waste disposal and the food smoking process.
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