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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Italy to withdraw tainted cheese | Italy to withdraw tainted cheese |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The Italian government says it is ready to withdraw from sale the mozzarella cheese linked to dioxin contamination. | The Italian government says it is ready to withdraw from sale the mozzarella cheese linked to dioxin contamination. |
| Italy's health ministry said the affected cheese came from 25 producers in the Campania region near Naples, where buffalo mozzarella is made. | Italy's health ministry said the affected cheese came from 25 producers in the Campania region near Naples, where buffalo mozzarella is made. |
| French authorities have told shops to remove Italian buffalo mozzarella. In the UK, officials said there was no immediate risk to consumers. | French authorities have told shops to remove Italian buffalo mozzarella. In the UK, officials said there was no immediate risk to consumers. |
| However, the European Commission had urged Italy to improve safety measures. | However, the European Commission had urged Italy to improve safety measures. |
| Italian Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema said: "The government will this morning take the steps agreed with the European Union to withdraw from the market products that do not comply with standards." | Italian Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema said: "The government will this morning take the steps agreed with the European Union to withdraw from the market products that do not comply with standards." |
| The contamination emerged during checks last week. Dioxins, which can cause cancer, were found at higher than permitted levels at some mozzarella producers. | The contamination emerged during checks last week. Dioxins, which can cause cancer, were found at higher than permitted levels at some mozzarella producers. |
| Buffalo herds produce the best milk for mozzarellaThe affected cheese is the finest traditional variety, made from buffalo milk. | Buffalo herds produce the best milk for mozzarellaThe affected cheese is the finest traditional variety, made from buffalo milk. |
| The French agriculture ministry on Friday ordered shops to withdraw the imported buffalo mozzarella as a precautionary measure. | The French agriculture ministry on Friday ordered shops to withdraw the imported buffalo mozzarella as a precautionary measure. |
| A European Commission official told the BBC News website that "there is not an immediate health risk" but that Italy needed to act to comply with EU rules. | A European Commission official told the BBC News website that "there is not an immediate health risk" but that Italy needed to act to comply with EU rules. |
| "The levels of dioxin are not excessive but they are over the maximum recommended amount, so measures have to be taken to decrease these levels," the official said. | "The levels of dioxin are not excessive but they are over the maximum recommended amount, so measures have to be taken to decrease these levels," the official said. |
| Italy says it has traced the farms at the source of the contamination, and destroyed their milk. | Italy says it has traced the farms at the source of the contamination, and destroyed their milk. |
| Japan and South Korea have already imposed an import ban on the cheese. | Japan and South Korea have already imposed an import ban on the cheese. |
| Suspect rubbish dumps | Suspect rubbish dumps |
| In the UK, the Food Standards Agency said: "We are currently not aware of any contaminated buffalo mozzarella being distributed in the UK. | In the UK, the Food Standards Agency said: "We are currently not aware of any contaminated buffalo mozzarella being distributed in the UK. |
| "However, we take any risk very seriously and are currently talking to Italian authorities about this issue." | "However, we take any risk very seriously and are currently talking to Italian authorities about this issue." |
| Italian officials told the European Commission that 130 mozzarella production sites had been checked and dioxins above the EU limit had been found at 25 of them. | |
| Police are investigating whether feed given to herds around the city of Naples was tainted. | Police are investigating whether feed given to herds around the city of Naples was tainted. |
| It is believed the cause is toxic waste, illegally dumped by criminals on agricultural land used for pasture. | It is believed the cause is toxic waste, illegally dumped by criminals on agricultural land used for pasture. |
| Mozzarella is big business in Italy, with herds of a quarter of a million buffalo producing a total of 33,000 tonnes of mozzarella cheese each year, 16% of which is exported. | Mozzarella is big business in Italy, with herds of a quarter of a million buffalo producing a total of 33,000 tonnes of mozzarella cheese each year, 16% of which is exported. |