The Guardia di Finanza of Gallipoli and the inspectors of the Icqrf (Central Inspectorate for the protection of quality and the repression of fraud in agri-food products) have discovered food fraud in a company in the lower Salento, which marketed watermelons, artichokes and oil with false indications from. During the operation, 9 tonnes of watermelons deceptively labeled as Italian were seized, as well as 2 tonnes of artichokes and 1,500 liters of olive oil, all without adequate labelling.
The inspection activities of the joint team made it possible to detect how the company subjected to inspection would have masked the traceability of a large quantity of watermelons coming from abroad and in particular from Greece, of which the real production area is not certain as it is not traced on paper, to be resold on the national territory as of Italian origin and cultivation. The packaging procedure for release on sale ended with the use of misleading packaging bearing false indications on the area of origin and production and Italian symbols capable of misleading intermediaries and the final consumer.
The legal representative of the company was referred to the Lecce Prosecutor’s Office for the hypothesis of fraud in trade and sale of products with false signs. During the intervention, two workers intent on working illegally were also identified. The Fiamme Gialle are carrying out further investigations and documentary evidence aimed at ascertaining any irregularities of a fiscal and contributory nature.
