Spoiled milk “corrected” with caustic soda and hydrogen peroxide, capable of masking its acidity. A “complex phenomenon of adulteration and sophistication which served to cover and correct the poor state of conservation of products destined for large-scale distribution”, write the Carabinieri in a note, was discovered by the Pesaro Urbino prosecutor’s office and led to the seizure of as many as 90 tonnes of milk and 110 tonnes of adulterated cheese, for a total value of over 800 thousand euros. The dairy products were produced in the Fattorie Marchigiane dairy, part of the well-known “Tre Valli Cooperlat” group.
Adulterating substances to cover the poor state of conservation
The checks were started following investigations directed by the Pesaro prosecutor’s office against 10 people and 3 companies. During the raid, carried out in Colli al Metauro by the Carabinieri together with more than 60 judicial police officers, entire storage compartments, cold rooms and expired products were seized.
The prosecutors, who hypothesize the crime of food fraud, believe that adulterant substances (such as soda and hydrogen peroxide) were regularly introduced into the production circuit of milk and derivatives, capable of “masking” the poor state of conservation of the products and thus allowing them to enter the large-scale distribution and retail circuit.
Fattorie Marchigiana said it was available, while the Minister of Agriculture Francesco Lollobrigida also spoke on the matter: “I thank our Central Inspectorate for the tight controls carried out every day in our territory, to defend the producers and the people who buy” . “Together with the Nas of the Carabinieri, he contributed to carrying out an important operation, in the wake of the commitment against all types of counterfeiting and deception on Italian agri-food products. Quality, well-being and safety are strong elements of Made in Italy” .
The company’s response
“Following our note released on 24 April 2024, we intend to clarify that the other two structures visited as part of the NAS/ICQRF inspection are a dairy products warehouse, located in Loria (TV), where the inspectors were able note the perfect condition of the environments from a hygienic-sanitary point of view and the equally perfect conservation and integrity of the products found there, as well as the agricultural company of a contributing member, Altavalmarecchia-Montefeltro (RM), in which samples of raw material for the related analyses. Finally, it is important to point out that, as reported in the same press articles, the checks on the products placed on the market did not reveal any anomalies.
