As if struggling Italy did not enough to deal with considering its daily influx of desperate refugees, now the out-of-touch EU would like it to switch to powdered milk to make mozzarella cheese.
Fresh milk from domestic water buffalo is the traditional ingredient.
To protect the quality of its produce, Italy passed a law in 1974 to prevent sales of any cheese or yogurt made with powdered milk.
In 1996 mozzarella was given the EU’s Protected Designation of Origin as well as its Protected Geographical Indication which requires that it be produced only with a traditional recipe in specific locations.
The European Commission has sent an official letter to the ministry of agriculture, asking for “an end of the ban on possession and use of milk powder, condensed milk and reconstituted milk” in the manufacture of dairy products.
EU bureaucrats consider the ban restricts “the free movement of goods, as milk powder and concentrated milk are used extensively in Europe”.
Italy has responded by calling the request “an attack” on its cultural heritage. Moreover, such a move would force Italy to lower its food standards, according to Roberto Moncalvo, president of Coldiretti, which represents agricultural producers.
“We are facing the umpteenth diktat from Europe," he said. "Even though the EU is wavering in front of unprecedented emergencies such as immigration, it is ready to support the lobbyists who want to force us to lower the quality of our food produce.”
Coldiretti said Italy’s reputation as a quality food producer would be damaged if its law was changed. The export market for Italian cheeses and dairy products is thought to be worth more than €2 billion.
Italina standards have already been assailed when, several months ago, the Commission permitted wine producers in the EU to use sugar to increase the alcohol content of their wines. Many producers were scandalised.
Commission reps are to meet with the Italian agriculture ministry on 24 July to discuss the matter.
While the Commission fiddles, does anyone smell burning?
