The military of the Carabinieri Forestal Station of Milan, following ordinary administrative control in the agro-food sector, have seized more than a ton of foreign food (both EU and non-EU) without labeling in Italian. Specialist ATS personnel from Milan also took part in the operations.
The store, located in the central area of the city, displayed for sale hundreds of products of different product categories such as salty and sweet foods, food of animal origin, drinks all imported from abroad and labeled in foreign languages (Japanese, Spanish, English) and therefore not compliant.
The reference legislation in the agri-food sector (EU Reg. No. 1169/2011) imposes the obligation for those who sell food to provide the consumer with "precise, clear and easily understandable food information" and clearly in the "language of the State in which the food is marketed ". This is in order to protect the health of consumers and ensure an informed choice on the basis of transparent indications.
On the foreign language label of many products seized there was for example the indication "produced with genetic engineering" or containing raw materials subject to genetic engineering and / or GMOs.
An administrative fine of up to 24.000 was imposed on the shop owner.