Alarmingly, an area of Italy close to Naples has been christened the Triangle of Death by locals. It is an area where the camorra mafia has been running a very lucrative, highly illegal and dangerous, toxic waste dumping business.
Basically, the camorra mafia has been dumping – and probably still is – all sorts of dangerous toxic waste in the countryside of the Campania region of Italy.
The toxins have entered the food chain as contaminated fruit and vegetables have been found in the areas in which the illegal waste dumping has taken place. Tonnes of toxic food have been seized in Italy. In May, 2013, a doctor in the Triangle of Death area, Nunzio Pacilio advised pregnant women against eating dairy products and vegetables in view of the high number of spontaneous abortions. One in seven pregnancies had ended in spontaneous abortions, the medic claimed. A local priest stated he was tired of presiding over the funerals of children killed by tumours.
UPDATE: Thanks to one of my Twitter followers, John Avelis, it has been drawn to my attention that the US Navy has been carrying out a detailed study of the Campania region – the results of the last one – Phase II Volume III – 290 pages, came out in May 2011 and did not find cause for concern at that time but certain foodstuffs, such as dairy products, were not analysed. Chicken and a range of vegetables available to US personnel within US bases were safe though.
This is a section taken from one of the Phase II fact sheets:
What were the results of the food study?
Results of the study demonstrated that the vegetables sampled in the study met the food safety criteria for safe consumption. In addition, chicken products produced by Arena Group also met food safety criteria for safe consumption. Further, tap water from the washing sink of the Commissary’s produce department met the safety criteria for drinking and washing fruits and vegetables. However, tap water from Arena Group had concentrations of coliform that exceeded the “zero tolerance” level criteria for total coliform. Following this finding, Arena Group was suspended from VETCOM’s list of approved suppliers. The poultry plant corrected the bacteria discrepancy and was later reinstated on VETCOM’s approved source list after VETCOM re-inspected the plant. Unrelated to the study, Arena Group requested to be removed from VETCOM’s list of approved suppliers in December 2009. Currently, there are no local acquisitions for fresh poultry.
The comprehensive US Navy Public Health reports with maps and plus fact sheets, compiled by CNIC Naval Support Activity Naples, can all be found here – .pdf files :
- Phase II Fact Sheets Available HERE
- NPHE Phase I Report – Executive Summary – 4 pages
- NPHE Phase II Report – Volume I – 1,715 pages – a very large .pdf file
- NPHE Phase II Report – Volume II – 2,492 pages – a very large .pdf file
- NPHE Phase II Report – Volume III – 290 pages
Note that the US only inspects food available within its bases and not food available off base, in local restaurants, for example.
—end of update—
Fires used to incinerate waste have been helping spread poisons over a wider area, so the Triangle of Death area may actually be several times larger than some indications suggest. This means fruit and vegetables over a much wider section of the Campania region may be unsafe for human consumption, though this has not been demonstrated, yet. Hopefully it never will be.
Fires have led the the area earning itself the nickname the Land of Fire. The fires, used to illegally incinerate waste, have been helping spread poisons over a wider area, so the Triangle of Death area may actually be several times larger than some indications suggest. This means fruit and vegetables over a much wider section of the Campania region may be unsafe for human consumption, though this has not been demonstrated, yet. Hopefully it never will be. The 2011 US Navy report, Phase 11 Volume 111 suggests most food is safe.
Fires used to incinerate waste have been helping spread poisons over a wider area, so the Triangle of Death area may actually be several times larger than some indications suggest. This means fruit and vegetables over a much wider section of the Campania region may be unsafe for human consumption, though this has not been demonstrated, yet. Hopefully it never will be.
Cancer and Congenital Deformities
Cancer levels in the province of Naples are way above Italy’s national average and congenital deformities are more common too.
Understandably, Italians in other areas of Italy want to know if they are eating contaminated food. The problem it that it is just about impossible to know.
Contaminated tomatoes may end up in sauces produced in Italy’s north. Street traders, I saw one today, hawk crates of cheap Clementine oranges on the streets of Milan. Who knows where these oranges were grown and whether or not they are safe to eat?
In September 2004, this appeared in Lancet Oncology:
“The 5000 illegal or uncontrolled landfill sites in Italy drew particular criticism; Italy has already been warned twice for flouting the Hazardous Waste Directive and the Landfill Directive, and the EU has now referred Italy to the European Court of Justice for further action.”
The dumping of toxic waste in the area did not cease.
An Italian policeman investigating illegal dumping in the area also kn0wn as the Land of Fire has been diagnosed with a tumour.
Quarantine Time?
There are campaigns in Italy for the origins of fruit and vegetables to be clearly marked on packets, bottles and cans, but so far this has not happened. Perhaps those outside should start lobbying the European Union and asking questions about the safety of Italian produce.
Maybe the USA’s FDA should start knocking on the Italian government’s door to demand food safety assurances.
Or should the whole area simply be quarantined?
Dairy Products May be Contaminated
Do you know where that delicious buffalo mozzarella came from in Italy? Has it been tested? If not, you may want to think twice about eating it until such time as the Italian government provides comprehensive assurances as to the safety of Italian foodstuffs. Assurances backed by independent testing.
Italy’s Mafia Controlled Fruit and Vegetable Markets
Making matters even more worrying is the concern that Italy’s mafias often control fruit and vegetable markets in Italy.
It is believed that Naples’ camorra mafia have formed a fruit and vegetable market control alliance with the Sicilian mafia otherwise known as Cosa Nostra. This means that contaminated fruit and vegetables from the Triangle of Death, Land of Fire areas is likely to be distributed throughout Italy, and possibly beyond Italy’s boundaries.
Another of Italy’s organised crime gangs, the all powerful ‘ndrangheta mafia reputedly runs the wholesale fruit and vegetable market in Milan.
Neither dumping toxic waste near or on farmland, nor adherence to food safety regulations bother organised crime in Italy.
How Safe is Food in Italy?
This is extremely difficult to know. That tasty looking pizza with its mozzarella cheese and tomato paste may look great, but where did the cheese and tomatoes come from? You could try asking, but how good is your Italian? Will the pizza restaurant even know or will it give you an honest answer? Who knows?
UPDATE: According to the Burnt By the Tuscan Sun blog, tests commissioned by four Italian consumer associations have revealed that mozzarella from the Triangle of Death/Land of Fire area is more than safe enough to enjoy. More information here: Mozzarella from Naples: Italian Cuisine Good Enough to Eat?
Fruit, vegetables and dairy products from the Naples area are distributed throughout Italy but you are unlikely to find indications of where that food was grown. Some labelling in Italy’s supermarkets does say where the products were grown, though. Origins are not always specified with great precision. For example, the tin of tomato pulp in our food cupboard says the tomatoes are from Italy but omits to mention exactly whereabouts in Italy. The company which produced the tomato pulp is based in Parma in northern Italy but I have no idea where in Italy the company obtains its tomatoes.
Even if the origin of the food is stated, do you know where the place mentioned in Italy is? Probably not. You could search for it on your smart phone or tablet though, but this is not always easy to do.
At the end of the day, a rather large question mark hangs over the safety of food in Italy – testing is unlikely to be independent. The food could be fine, then again, it could be loaded with an unsafe quantity of dioxins and other toxic nasties. You simply cannot know by looking at or tasting the food, nor can your children.
How Can You Protect Yourself and Your Family?
Look for the precise origin of the food – the town or area of Italy. If a town in the Italian region of Campania is named on the label, it may be wise to look for something from somewhere else in Italy.
Don’t rely on official looking labelling, it might be fake or the product of a backhander arrangement. Then again, it might not. It’s virtually impossible to know in Italy.
If you buy Italian tomatoes or tomato based products, find out where the tomatoes came from in Italy. If the price seems exceptionally cheap, beware, though this may not indicate whether the tomatoes contain toxin or not. However, unscrupulous producers may be trying to offload tonnes of contaminated produce to food makers at knock-down prices.
Italy’s Triangle of Death is killing and deforming Italians – don’t let it do the same to you.
—
Pizza photo by Lppa
EASY TRAVELER says
Thanks Marco! We’ll be in Italy in September. I dearly LOVE your country! We spent some time there in 2012. We ate the food. It was deliciuos! The sights are one thing, the food is another! Italy also has interesting TRAINS!
Marco says
Hi all,
Just read this article on the “Corriere della Sera”, for Italian-speaking readers:
http://divini.corriere.it/2014/01/30/lolio-il-new-york-times-la-frenata-di-tom/
It refers to the New York Times bestseller “Extra Virginity”, by Tom Mueller.
Marco
Alex Roe says
Yes, Marco, seems to be a party friendly Italian newspaper denying reality. Fairly normal here, alas. Coldiretti and others know there’s a problem with made in Italy not being made in Italy.
Thanks for the link,
Alex
Marco says
Thank you John, but my reply was wider. I hope you had a look on the links I provided. Moreover this evening while on train, I thought I should underline that Italy will host in 2015 the world Expo, mainly on food and food technologies. I am therefore sure that such topics will be highlighted in the near future.
I also thought I could take pictures of the labels I will buy tomorrow – if you want and if I will be allowed to upload them here. You agree?
Concerning my book, thanks indeed, it would be a pleasure.
Kindest regards,
M.
john castle says
hi marco
I rather think we are going round in circles.
I wasn’t for a single second suggesting that you were responsible for the labelling preferences of Auchan or the nutella folk and I don’ see how you or anyone could think I was.
Your book on allied POWs sounds interesting – maybe Alex would be interested in it.
bye
Marco says
Dear John, sorry if I didn’t explain me clearly. As I don’t support our Government (!), in the same way I was not writing on the basis of my own preferences, taste, habits – it would be useless. I don’t eat Nutella and sorry, I am not responsible for their policies, nor for Auchan’s labels. I could only speak of my own experiences – when I wrote about the UK and Mexico it was not about taste, but concerning bad ingredients. In both these circumstances I ate something that had… bad consequences on me.
If you would know, or live here in Italy – at least where I have been living, Milan, Turin, Biella – you would understand that the common Italian has no “Italian defensiveness”. It is quite sad to say but we are used to belittle this nation and its habits, especially when speaking of several topics – politics, management, order, the respect of law, etc. So we are more inclined to underline Italy’s faults and omissions – especially when we live abroad, or when speaking with foreigners.
I am not an expert in food quality control but I visited various farms and direct producers, and I know what I am saying. If you want to be sure, at least in Italy, you will always find good and safe “filiera corta” or at least land-linked, trackable products. As I have done and you may believe me, I am not rich at all – I am 30 and work as senior researcher.
In Italy there is a much wider offer of different food types than in all the countries I visited abroad – just for instance, let’s think to cheeses, wines, mineral waters.. whatever. And like everywhere there are expensive and less expensive brands. You have a large choice.
Concerning your precise question on labels and fat content, I can only suggest this direct link, if I am allowed to publish it – it’s from our Ministry of Health, therefore a not for profit organization:
http://www.salute.gov.it/portale/temi/p2_4.jsp?lingua=italiano&tema=Alimenti&area=sicurezzaAlimentare
(The English version is: http://www.archeo.salute.gov.it/indexEnglish.jsp but I could not find the very same page).
Just clicking on Google for “Filiera corta”, “certificazione filiera corta bio”, etc. you will find thousands references. Moreover, this is from the Coldiretti website, on food safety:
http://www.sicurezzaalimentare.it/Pagine/default.aspx
I started writing for two reasons. For first, I love this topic – it’s something unique. I just wrote a book about Allied POWs in Northern Italy, and I have always been fascinated by the way foreigners used, and use, to see us; by the meeting between different cultures and people. Therefore I could not resist and joined Italychronicles.com.
Secondly, from this thread and above all the worried replies and comments I read, it seemed like the whole Italy and its food was on the edge of the abyss. This was frankly ridiculous – I experienced worst country’s foods and cleanliness!, and was not correct to the thousand families and producers who invested time, energy, care and efforts in their job. Italy still owns a refined food-culture and history that few other nations have in each single place, land, county, region, town, village.
As an Italian I am incredulous, shocked, terrified and disgusted by the news from the Land of Fires. I would never try to lessen the degree of damage they caused to honest farmers and inhabitants with their pollution, the cancer risk, the environmental disaster. I read the Government, as always when there are no other options available, will send the Army to find and clean everything – a further defeat for civil society that, in my mind, should be able to care and protect itself without asking the help of a distant, centralized State or even the Army.
To be frank, I am not optimist. As an Italian I saw many times how emergences started, rescue were launched with great efforts and debates, investigations, and then what?
But at the same time, Italy is wider and healthier than that. As I wrote before, learn Italian and ask for info to your hosts, if you need. Or find an Italian friend and do the same. Avoid touristic menu and large distribution products. Several of my foreign colleagues are microbiologists and ecologists, maybe I will ask their opinion, but as far as I can see they’re not very worry – they’re all trying to have and raise children here!
Thanks for your attention,
Marco
John Castle says
Marco
Well I can certainly tell that you are Italian Marco.
You seem almost to see this as a gastronomic or epicurean issue rather than a question of public safety and the question of whether a modern state really has control of a major slice of its supposed territory and an important area of its citizens’ welfare.
My point about nutella was not related to whether it tastes nice (it does) or is good for you (very probably not in all but modest amounts) but whether it was subject to much in the way of Italian food labelling regs. From my knowledge of the issue the labelling regs it faces are not too rigourous in Italy and the company would like it to remain so. I believe that in a comic-serious (playing it both ways) strategy it tried to present this as a potential attack on Italian identity and culture.
The supermarket I referred to was a large branch of Auchan. Possibly Carrefour. In Italy I stress. I seem to remember that the chunck of shrink-wrapped meat I was peering at was from Poland, though I consider the country of origin irrelevant. My point is that there was no real labelling. I was interested in the fat content not particularly for health reasons but because of the nature of the recipe I was contemplating. The lack of fat content also has another consumer import – meat with more fat is very often cheaper. So I couldn’t judge the value of what I was buying.
Quite what the gastronomic disappointments of you and your brother in London and the UK have to do with the issue I don’t know, unless you are just displaying that certain Italian defensiveness. It is generally accepted I think that Italians place more value on food than Brits and I am perfectly willing to believe that your food experience was inferior to that you had at home but I repeat that that isn’t the point. The thing about Mexico baffles me even more.
I think it is also relevant to suggest that not all Italians are in the position of being on speaking terms with the suppliers of their food, either because they don’t have the time or the money.
I like Italian food, most folks do, including clearly your colleagues, but it isn’t really the point.
I think a few other folk have pointed out that Campania can not really be seen as a separate country/a world apart. Geographically, politically, economically, trade-wise it is part of Italy. Its produce goes everywhere.
I will I am afraid continue to be somewhat wary of mozzarella/limit my intake, not being fortunate enough to be being friendly with the cow/buffalo which produced it.
Marco says
Dear John, thank you for this kind reply. I don’t have precise answers to your questions – never used Nutella, at least…! I may only say few things.
No, I would never promote this, or other Italian governments. I think our greatest fault, shame and burden has been represented by our infamous political class – and as the most part of the correct Italians would answer you, I would never share anything with them. In the same way I would never share or agree or have anything to do with a thief or a liar.
I work in Milan in a large Foundation, and for the most part, my colleagues come from abroad. Just when speaking and having lunch with them, in these last 7 years, I have never heard about such issues – disliking or bad consequences of an Italian food. Never, in Southern or Northern Italy.
I don’t know which supermarket you experienced. I may swear that for my whole life, I have been buying in several supermarket or stores and have never been disappointed by the quality of what I bought. I can’t say the same, for instance, after my experience in the UK – and my brother, living and working in London, would surely agree; but that’s a different story. The same thing in Mexico.
Moreover, I prefer to pay a little more – but to know what I am going to eat or to drink. That’s why I always choose the “filiera corta” productions, it’s also an important way to support the little land-owners and direct producers. And frankly speaking, I would not agree to buy berries or butter or whatever else from the other side of the world, if we have hundreds of varieties here.
For instance, I love the angus or Kobe meat and I am used to taste it with pleasure, when abroad – but why should I order it here?, when in Piedmont we have the best meats I ever tasted? Think at the fassone, the sanato piemontese, the bue grasso and so on. Or also to the chianina meat. All these animals came from super-certified breeding farms, with no mass-breeding, and in the most part owned by the same families during the last ages.
Therefore, yes, I think there is much alarm – mainly for nothing. The most part of Italy has safe and trackable foods, waters, wines, etc. For the specific case of the “Terra dei fuochi” (land of fires), it’s very sad but it would be wiser to avoid products from there. But please consider that Italy is a little wider, and not limited to that area. For instance, why should a foreign family in Aviano be concerned of the quality of local foods or potable water?
Of course, a wise traveller should avoid tourist menu or restaurants. And look for “real” places to enjoy our food. That’s exactly what I do when abroad. The problem is, very few foreigners are able to understand a little Italian.
Kind regards,
Marco
John Castle says
I must admit Marco that I find your post, although subtle and admitting certain issues somewhat blase.
>> First, all the possible food you may find in Italy are certified, I mean, protected by precise certifications stating the date and place of production, etc. For instance, you can’t buy fish at your supermarket without finding these labels – in Milan, Turin, in my hometown Biella, in Bologna at least. This is clearly due for food, goods, mineral waters.
I am not in Italy but go quite a lot and I must admit that it appears to me that the food labelling requirements are quite lax. I do seem to remember, for instance, peering in vain at a pack of meat in a supermarket for any information about fat content. Yes I was told which country it came from but sod all about what was in it.
And didn’t the Nutella folk behind Italian athletes’ favourite breakfast fuel (if you believe the ads) recently launch a campaign against the outrageous proposal that folk might be given basic nutritional information about their admittedly delicious product?
>> Therefore I would only suggest to enjoy your stay – never heard of a foreign tourist who disliked Italian foods, or suffered from them.
I find this a particularly bizarre statement – surely we are not talking about holidaymakers or Brits inspired by Brit TV’s italoporn to take a two-week jaunt in Bella Italia but its own citizens and residents subjected to poisoned food over many years? Lots of stuff tastes nice but is thoroughly bad for you. You don’t by any chance do PR for some branch of the Italian government do you?
>>We are not in the lower Middle Age, even if various parts of this poor and beautiful Country continue to amaze and terrify the newspapers’ readers.
I do hope you aren’t suggesting that the problem is being exaggerated by alarmists?
Tiana says
Thanks for the update! Makes sense that the US would check their bases…but I still think about tumors and what have you, if those were a direct cause of the toxins.
Alex Roe says
Prego. It is interesting that the US decided to carry out a study of the area – that speaks volumes and shows that local worries are justified. While I’m not 100% certain, it’s likely the US is still monitoring. Overall though, from what I’ve read in the Navy reports, back in 2010/11 the situation was not too bad.
Trash disposal in the area has been chaotic for decades and as US Navy notes, organised crime tends to run the whole show – badly.
Cheers,
Alex
Tiana says
Right, plus U.S. bases are like little Americas, you can get Cheetos and from what I noticed from military contacts many Americans eat Cheetos over Italian mozzarella. Travesty! I wouldn’t think the U.S. would spend more money on something that does not directly affect them or their internal food consumption.
Alex Roe says
U.S. bases are the same in the UK and probably everywhere. Not up to them to encourage consumption of local foods, but I’m sure many personnel do anyway. U.S. military probably works hard to give everyone a comfortable home from home – which is probably what many want. Anyway, U.S. does source food from local suppliers in Italy, and I’m sure this helps out the local economy a bit.
Will attempt to have a chat with NSA down in Naples – their public affairs office email is quite public and they are on Facebook too!
Am now in the U.S. system – got finger printed and photographed before being allowed to enter NYC 😉 CSI can find me now – if I do anything untoward.
Cheers,
Alex
Marco says
While here in Italy we are all shocked by the terrible news coming from the “Terra dei Fuochi” (never heard the nickname “Triangle of Death”, wasn’t is from the Iraqi war?), I would like to underline a few points. First, all the possible food you may find in Italy are certified, I mean, protected by precise certifications stating the date and place of production, etc. For instance, you can’t buy fish at your supermarket without finding these labels – in Milan, Turin, in my hometown Biella, in Bologna at least. This is clearly due for food, goods, mineral waters.
Second, Italy has an outstanding amount of “filiera corta” producers: local farmers or companies directly working “on the territory”, i.e. proposing goods and food from their own land. In this way you could be sure that all the animals exactly came from there. They are perfectly trackable.
Third, at least in Italy we don’t have – and hopefully will never – OGM or other “modified” foods. Therefore I would only suggest to enjoy your stay – never heard of a foreign tourist who disliked Italian foods, or suffered from them. Of course you, as we, have to choose certified food sellers and restaurants – this is obvious everywhere in the world.
We are not in the lower Middle Age, even if various parts of this poor and beautiful Country continue to amaze and terrify the newspapers’ readers.
Kind regards,
Marco
Francesca Maggi says
Although it’s good to get this information out there, I’d just like to offer in the spirit of quid pro quo, that the USA (& most of the world) uses Monsanto’s Round-UP to fertilize crops & use as a pesticide.
The guys who spray it wear nuclear waste white full-body suits, but…They think it’s good enough to eat?
Look at the cancer plague of America. Round-up never gets out of the crop and its going into our bodies. And, the govt subsidises this chemical onslaught while refusing subsidies to organic farmers. Go Figure.
I think it’s just a few E.European countries who have stood up to Monsanto – the real toxic devil in our midst.
Alex Roe says
Italy has stood up to Monsanto’s GMO stuff, thankfully. But bees have been dying in Italy and treated seeds are believed to have been the cause.
True, the US is not perfect. Italy could be better, and in some respects, is already better than the US – not as much senseless violence, alcohol abuse, generally free healthcare and state pension system is not bad. If Italy became half as efficient as the US, it’d go places.
Best,
Alex
Sanne de Boer says
Hi Alex, you are right to warn people about dodgy food controls in Italy, and about the environmental tragedy this specific region of Campania. However, there is so much more to say about this. I have visited the area recently and have also met many people who are working hard to safeguard products and areas of land. For example, the buffalo mozzarella makers of Le Terre di don Peppe Diana (of the “mafia-free” brand called Libera Terra). Good stuff to consume if you care for Italy.
Also, please beware of creating the impression (read this in the later comments) that this problem is related to “the south” of Italy. As you know, the Italian mafias are as much present in the north as they are in the southern regions. Campania may be the region they have been intoxicating the most over the last 25 years (!) with industrial waste from northern and foreign industries, but it is likely they have already moved much of this toxic business elsewhere – even outside of Italy, in other European countries. To conclude that southern products are less trustworthy than those from the north, is therefore a rather naïve and even dangerous oversimplification.
Alex Roe says
You are right on the over simplification to an extent, Sanne, but if the US Navy decides to run a major study on the area – which does note the long standing problems re refuse disposal which have beset the area, it means something is not right. I do feel for the people of Campania – their livelihoods have been put on the line by the very same people who are supposed to be representing them – but the people in the area need to shout louder more often and earlier.
I am well aware the mafias are present all over Italy – but they originated in Italy’s south and are still a major issue in Italy’s south – more so, for the moment, than up here in the north.
As far as I know, there’s no triangle of death/land of fire in Italy’s north.
The whole situation illustrates just how dangerous unethical politicians can be – the issue not only damages Italy’s south, but reflects very badly on Italy as a whole. The problem should never have been allowed to get so out of hand – heads really should be rolling, but as usual in Italy, they are not and probably never will.
If this information helps Italy wake up, then it has done its job and may help prevent such situations from getting out of hand in future.
As things stand, there is a perception among Italians in the north that food products from Italy’s south are unsafe – I did not create this perception.
Sanne de Boer says
I never meant to say that you created this perception, Alex, sorry if it sounded that way. I just wanted to warn against hasty generalization, especially after reading some of the comments above. Hope my suggestion for the ethical brand of buffalo mozzarella is helpful. I’ve tasted it by the way and it was yummy. Ingredient for your next pizza?
Alex Roe says
Don’t worry, Sanne. But I did think you might have been having a go at me for running this post. Hopefully it may end some generalizations.
An ethical brand of buffalo mozzarella does sound like a good idea and I’d happily pop some on my next pizza.
Cheers,
Alex
John Castle says
This –
http://zeenews.india.com/news/world/italy-s-govt-agrees-to-send-in-army-against-mafia-dumps_904169.html
though I admit that I know nothing about the credentials of zeenews.
That quote from Alfano, if accurate, surely says something about Italy:
“for the first time, all political forces are in agreement to offer concrete solutions to resolve a specific problem”.
So until now there was trouble agreeing that the mafia poisoning your people young and old was a nuanced political issue rather than, er, A VERY BAD THING.
????
Alex Roe says
Typical Italy, John. Action is only promised well after the cat is out of the bag.
This sounds rather familiar: “for the first time, all political forces are in agreement to offer concrete solutions to resolve a specific problem”
This particular ‘cat’ shouldn’t have been allowed to get in the bag in the first place.
Cheers,
Alex
Tiana Kai says
Wow, this is incredibly disheartening! Such a shame that children have passed away and women have lost unborn babies over this mess. Hopefully, something big will be done to resurrect the area and help the communities that have been affected the most. Besides the kids I think of all the farmers whose crops and livestock have been deeply affected…I hope insurance works in this case. Tsk tsk tsk Italia!
ilaria says
there was recently an episode of “Servizio Pubblico” on this, called Inferno Atomico. It’s available here http://www.serviziopubblico.it/servizio_pubblico_piu/2013/12/29/news/inferno_atomico.html (in Italian only i’m afraid).
A lot of people in Italy are very concerned and many of my friends stopped eating anything that comes from the south, not just the terra dei fuochi or Campania (better safe than sorry).
Alex Roe says
Hi Ilaria,
Yes, Italians have become wary of food from Italy’s south. I know one mum who’s avoiding it for safety reasons, so it comes as no surprise to hear your friends are doing the same. Perhaps Italy’s government will wake up to the fact that situations like these must never be allowed to get out of hand. Some hope though. Italy’s government is not too hot at governing, alas.
Something is now being down – troops to be sent in, but action should have been taken years ago – not now.
Cheers,
Alex
PS The US Navy is monitoring the area to protect US military personnel stationed and living nearby.
FMaggi says
three consumers Association groups did a study buying the mozzarella in different places around Italy and sent it to an independent lab in Germany no less for testing. They came out with actually one fifth of the toxins that are normally acceptable so it looks like the area isn’t as dangerous as it might be thought. another thing to look at is also the olive oil — there’s all kinds of nasty things happening with olive oil as detailed in a terrific book, Extra Virgin.
Burnt by the Tuscan Sun
Alex Roe says
That’s good to hear. At least someone did have the cheese analysed. Choosing Germany for the analysis speaks volumes though 😉
Cheers,
Alex
John Castle says
I will let you know Alex if I remember where I got the idea about the relatively recent promotion of the buffalo – if I didn’t dream it may be linked to that reference in wiki link to them being wiped out by the end of WWII.
I seem to remember that when I was in Italy (I am fairly often) I have seen German mozzarella. Lidl? Or maybe I dreamt that.
Might be an answer. Your strong implication that government sign-offs may have been bought is pretty terrifying – I know that I have sometimes been bemused/concerned by the apparent gaps in Italian food labelling for a country that is supposed to value food so much – lack of info on fat content of meat for instance.
I think you should post a home-made pizza recipe since you have managed to destroy one of my last untainted pleasures in Italy. For a pizza without mozarella or tomato isn’s a pizza is it?
Alex Roe says
Hi John,
Let me know if you find the info. Mozzarella is made in other countries so you may well have seen it in Lidl – though Lidl does stock imported items from Italy, so you weren’t dreaming 🙂
As for certificates not being all they seem, I have no proof of course, but knowing Italy, it’s not beyond the realms of possibility and has happened in the building trade, so why not in other trades? It’s very hard to know and it is strongly suspected that politicians, local and national, have been covering up the illegal dumping for well over a decade. Am I right to be suspicious? I think so.
Re pizza – just buy mozzarella which is not made in Italy until the all clear has been given – same goes for tomatoes. Or ask your local pizza place where their ingredients come from. It’s terrible to have to write this, but you’ve read this article, you you’ll probably understand why I’ve written it. Very sad. Silly Italy.
Cheers,
Alex
PS Am having pizza tonight – but will admit to being a little worried.
Rachel says
This is so sick….one of the main things that Italy can be really proud of – its food – has been put at risk 🙁 Makes me very angry. One can only hope the perpetrators end up getting sick too…
Alex Roe says
What makes the situation even worse, Rachel, is that Italy’s government has known about the illegal dumping for well over a decade but has not acting to end it, or rather, only started acting relatively recently while this area of Italy was being poisoned.
Not at all good, I know,
Best,
Alex
Jogn Castle says
Interesting article – I’ve wondered about this for a long time.
Especially the mozzarella, since it is my understanding that an awful lt of it comes from Campania.
By the way is it true that this idea that buffalo mozzarella is the best, the only one “dahling”, as parrotted by much of the UK lifestyle Bella Italia obsessed media is actually a recent idea, invention even, a la the UK ploughman’s lunch?
I thought I read somewhere that it was.
If so this raises the possibility that the camorra, as well as being rather nifty with a chainsaw are also masters of marketing and public relations.
I love Pizza when in Italy but am starting to wonder about it.
Alex Roe says
Hi John,
Buffalo mozzarella is an industry worth €300 million a year to Italy alone. Campania is the main area in Italy for the production of this type of mozzarella.
Is buffalo mozzarella the best? Well, from my own experience of buffalo mozzarella, I’d say it’s very good compared to normal mozzarella. It’s not a recent invention. According to Wikipedia it’s been made for years in Italy with buffalo mozzarella becoming easy to find in Italy in the second half of the 18th century, so it’s not a product of PR people!
The camorra link is a little worrying as it certainly sounds as if this crime gang controls buffalo mozzarella production. The mafia will also pay off all and sundry so the clean bill of health certified by local health officials may have been acquired with, er, clean bills of Euros. Such is Italy.
On the pizza front, I agree – writing this has made me wonder whether pizza without tomatoes and mozzarella may be safer.
The situation is not good and Italy’s government does seem to be keeping the issue rather quiet – probably because revealing the truth would cause massive damage to Italy’s export industry.
Best,
Alex