On August 6, the Italian Ministry of Health published the annual report concerning the 2015-2018 Integrated National Plan based on official controls carried out in the agri-food chain.

Among the main critical issues found in 2017, there are the unauthorized use of active principles with pharmacological action, organic contaminants, mycotoxins and heavy metals, but also the failure in respecting the good state of preservation of food (in particular fish products) and the presence of undeclared allergens in food, especially soy and eggs.

A massive control activity was carried out by the local Health Authorities: 348,616 plants and production facilities were checked, 47,804 samples were collected and 118,550 analyses were performed (1,044 irregularities). The Office for the prevention of the adulteration of beverages and foodstuffs of the Italian Carabinieri carried out other 50,311 checks.

A great effort was thus made to fight food frauds (counterfeiting and falsification) and the falsification of the “Made in Italy” brand.

Source: Ministry of Health