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France bans some mozzarella sales Italy to withdraw tainted cheese
(about 1 hour later)
The French agriculture ministry has told shops to withdraw some Italian mozzarella cheese from sale amid a scare over dioxin contamination. The Italian government says it is ready to withdraw from sale the mozzarella cheese linked to dioxin contamination.
The affected cheese is made from buffalo milk in the Campania region, near Naples. Italy's health ministry said the affected cheese came from 25 producers in the Campania region near Naples, where buffalo mozzarella is made.
Dioxins, which can cause cancer, have been found at higher than permitted levels at some mozzarella producers. French authorities have told shops to remove Italian buffalo mozzarella. In the UK, officials said there was no immediate risk to consumers.
The EU has told Italy to take more food safety measures. UK officials say there is no immediate risk to UK consumers. However, the European Commission had urged Italy to improve safety measures.
The European Commission warned Italy on Thursday to take further urgent action, or risk a ban on exports of the cheese from the Campania region. Italian Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema said: "The government will this morning take the steps agreed with the European Union to withdraw from the market products that do not comply with standards."
The contamination emerged during checks last week. Dioxins, which can cause cancer, were found at higher than permitted levels at some mozzarella producers.
Buffalo herds produce the best milk for mozzarellaThe affected cheese is the finest traditional variety, made from buffalo milk.
The French agriculture ministry on Friday ordered shops to withdraw the imported buffalo mozzarella as a precautionary measure.
A European Commission official told the BBC News website that "there is not an immediate health risk" but that Italy needed to act to comply with EU rules.
"The levels of dioxin are not excessive but they are over the maximum recommended amount, so measures have to be taken to decrease these levels," the official said.
Italy says it has traced the farms at the source of the contamination, and destroyed their milk.Italy says it has traced the farms at the source of the contamination, and destroyed their milk.
Japan and South Korea have already imposed an import ban on the cheese.Japan and South Korea have already imposed an import ban on the cheese.
Suspect rubbish dumpsSuspect rubbish dumps
Italian officials told the European Commission that 130 mozzarella production sites had been checked and dioxins above the EU limit were found at 25 of them. In the UK, the Food Standards Agency said: "We are currently not aware of any contaminated buffalo mozzarella being distributed in the UK.
Eating pieces of the cheese for the cameras, the Italian Agriculture Minister, Paolo De Castro, told journalists there was no health risk, and blamed the scare on a media frenzy. "However, we take any risk very seriously and are currently talking to Italian authorities about this issue."
The contamination emerged last week, when buffalo herds in the Naples area showed milk contamination after spot checks. .Italian officials told the European Commission that 130 mozzarella production sites had been checked and dioxins above the EU limit had been found at 25 of them.
Police are investigating whether feed given to herds around the city of Naples was tainted.Police are investigating whether feed given to herds around the city of Naples was tainted.
It is believed the cause is toxic waste, illegally dumped by criminals on agricultural land used for pasture.It is believed the cause is toxic waste, illegally dumped by criminals on agricultural land used for pasture.
Mozzarella is big business in Italy, with herds of a quarter of a million buffalo producing a total of 33,000 tonnes of mozzarella cheese each year, 16% of which is exported.Mozzarella is big business in Italy, with herds of a quarter of a million buffalo producing a total of 33,000 tonnes of mozzarella cheese each year, 16% of which is exported.