The Carabinieri have seized 80 Easter doves sold as artisanal products by a confectionery industry in Turin. The owner of a pastry shop in Salò had purchased them and then repackaged them with his own wrapping and label, increasing the price threefold compared to the purchase. He has been reported for fraud in the exercise of commerce. A similar case was also discovered in a pastry shop in Brescia, where about fifty Easter doves were found and seized.
These incidents are part of the intensified checks by the Carabinieri Command for Health Protection to ensure compliance with food safety regulations and to combat fraudulent behavior, which often occurs during holiday periods when confectionery activities experience an increase in sales.
Throughout Italy, two tons of confectionery products have been seized following inspections carried out by the Carabinieri Command for Health Protection in collaboration with the Ministry of Health. The inspections revealed violations concerning the lack of cleanliness and hygiene in the processing and storage areas, the absence of preventive procedures for food safety, and irregular labeling of products. In some cases, expired ingredients were found or they were stored in damp environments infested with rodents.
The control campaign involved the 38 Anti-Counterfeiting and Health Nuclei (NAS) of the Carabinieri, who carried out over 840 inspections at production laboratories and retail stores of chocolate eggs and Easter doves. Irregularities were found in 324 facilities, with the issuance of 574 criminal and administrative violations totaling 425,000 euros. Two tons of food, estimated to be worth over 267,000 euros, were also seized.
During the inspections, cases were also discovered where industrially produced doves and chocolate eggs were repackaged and sold as artisanal products at a higher price. Six shop owners have been referred to the judicial authority for attempted fraud in commerce, with the seizure of over 300 doves and eggs falsely declared as “own production”.
Due to serious hygiene and structural violations, fifteen closure or suspension measures have been imposed on commercial and production activities, with an economic value exceeding 5 million euros.
