Italy seeks to calm consumers’ fears over the safety of its prized buffalo Mozzarella after Japan followed South Korea in banning imports of the cheese due to concerns that high levels of dioxin had been found in samples of milk in southern Italy.

The European Commission has asked Italy to provide information on tests of buffalo herds in the Naples area. Despite Rome’s safety assurances and denials that Asian countries had banned Italian cheese imports, the Campania region around Naples appears to be heading for its worst economic crisis since Europe’s last cholera scare occurred in the city in 1973.
Since Naples’ long-running rubbish crisis last erupted in December there have been fears that dioxin levels are linked to the piles of rubbish in the suburbs of Naples and the adjoining province of Caserta.
Japan is particularly sensitive to threats of food contamination after a series of safety breakdowns and scandals. In the most serious incident, at least 10 people fell ill after eating Chinese-made frozen dumplings that were found to have been contaminated with pesticide. Italian officials confirmed that Japan’s health ministry had requested more information on quarantined dairies.