Food counterfeiting a 14-bn-euro business in 2013

(ANSA) – Rome, December 12 – Food counterfeiting in the first nine months of the year posted turnover of 14 billion euros, with 130 crimes logged in a 38% increase over 2012, police sources said Thursday.

Also in 2013, there were 150 reports leading to 5,000 inspections culminating in 3.5 million euros in fines, police told Agriculture Minister Nunzia Di Girolamo.

Most of the infractions this year occurred in the wine, oil, and dairy sectors.

The most recent counterfeit goods seizures involved 40 bottle of champagne in the northern city of Piacenza, 25,000 kilos of cheese in Cuneo, and 2,000 infected mozzarellas from the southern Campania region that had been labeled as safe for consumption.