An investigation in the Naples area of Italy (see publication here – open access) found multiple compliance, hygiene, labelling and food safety issues with imported foods on sale in retailers supplying ethnic communities; primarily Pakistani, Ukrainian, Filipino, and Chinese shops. The researchers conclude that there is evidence of deliberate, widespread and systematic avoidance of EU import controls, with implications much wider than just the local area sampled. Products of animal origin and other high-risk foods were a particular concern, along with unlabelled allergens. Evidence collected during the Naples investigation suggested that the retailers are the endpoints of a broader illicit distribution network rather than being the primary importers. Investigators found rolls and bundles of adhesive labels stored with packaged products, including inside cartons, supporting the researchers' hypothesis that illicit products and false labelling materials were supplied together, with labels subsequently applied at the point of retail.
The researchers, particularly, recommend the improved use of AI by regulators to match local-language retail labels against the imported originals (e.g. in Chinese language) to spot anomalies and absence of mandatory information.
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