| Abstract: |
Italian police have seized more than 9,000 tonnes of crushed grapes as part of an investigation into the fraudulent production of balsamic vinegar. The fraudsters allegedly sold the common table grape must to companies which produce balsamic vinegar and passed it off as being from the prized sangiovese and trebbiano varieties. Crime gangs expand into food fraud Balsamic vinegar, famed for its concentrated and complex flavour, can legally be produced from seven specified grape varieties. Fraudsters allegedly falsified quality certification documents, involving dozens of wine suppliers based in the regions of Sicily, Puglia, Campania, Lazio and Emilia-Romagna, where Modena, the Italian city synonymous with the vinegar, is located. The inferior must was allegedly used in the production of balsamic vinegar for several famous Italian companies, including AIMO (Acetifici Italiani Modena), and Acetum, the latter recently acquired by the British company ABS, said the fraud inspectorate. |
