A new case shakes the agri -food sector: about 2,000 kg of sheep flesh from Eastern Europe were sold as if they were Italian IGP abacchio. The operation, carried out by the carabinieri of the Operational Department for the Agro -Food Protection of Rome, has brought out a commercial fraud involving a slaughterhouse of the Frosinate.
The mechanism of the fraud
According to what was reconstructed by the investigators, hundreds of sheep were imported from Romania and Hungary, slaughtered in a Ciociaria plant and subsequently placed on the market with labels that declared an inexistent Italian origin. In some cases, the acronym for PGI – protected geographical indication, deceiving consumers and distributors on the real origin of the meat, was even affixed.
Five people investigated
The Prosecutor of Frosinone has notified five notices of conclusion of the preliminary investigations against as many subjects held responsible for various reasons of fraud on the market, falsehood in acts and trade of dangerous substances. The accusations are not limited to the deceptive labeling, but also include serious shortcomings in health checks.
Deficiencies in veterinary checks
During the investigation, significant gaps emerged: the health checks on the carcasses of animals were not carried out adequately and in several cases the veterinarians would have failed to carry out the mandatory checks. A conduct that facilitated the entry of flesh of dubious traceability into the commercial circuit, undermining food safety and consumer trust.
The protection of Made in Italy
The case once again shows how delicate the theme of the agri -food chain and the protection of the Made in Italy brand is. Operations of this type risk not only of damaging consumers, but also of compromising the work of breeders and companies that respect the rules and focus on authentic quality.
The Carabinieri Command for agri -food protection reiterated that the investigation falls within a wider system of controls regularly throughout Italy to defend typical products, safeguard the health of citizens and guarantee transparency in the market. The Frosinone operation is therefore part of a constant strategy to counter fraud that affect one of the most representative sectors of the Italian tradition.
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