Grana Padano Consortium: inspectors discovered fake brands and rigged maturations

Fictitionally lengthened maturation, fake branding on ordinary cheese or on a netted product were the main ones infringements ascertained in various Italian locations since Surveillance and Protection Service of the Grana Padano Consortiumin the context of “Happy Easter” control planactivated in anticipation of the increase in consumption for the holidays.

“We wanted to guarantee the authenticity and quality of the product on consumers’ tables in a period that can be considered at greater risk of infringements – comments the general director of the Consortium, Stefano Berni – Therefore, the consortium surveillance service has intensified its inspection activities in distribution and catering throughout the national territory”.

Irregular situations emerged in Campania It is in the Veneto. Grana Padano was discovered displayed for sale with a declared maturation period of 16 months which instead turned out to be a few months shorter. In another point of sale, a sticker bearing the Grana Padano logo had been applied to a common cheese and finally in a commercial establishment, a reticulated cheese was found on sale as Grana Padano Riserva for over 20 months, i.e. even without the quality requirements set by the Specifications. of Production for fire branding.

All these packages were removed from the market and inflicted on those responsible for the illicit conduct sanctions of variable amounts from €2,000 to €13,000. “The managers of the sales outlets have taken advantage of the information disseminated on the frequency and effectiveness of the surveillance service checks and the result is the overall low number of infringements – concludes Berni – Consumers, for their part, can count on a significant level of safety, which the Consortium for the Protection of the most consumed DOP cheese in the world is able to guarantee”.