Mozzarella Recall

March 28, 2008: High-end Italian mozzarella that possibly contained the contaminate dioxin was officially recalled due to fears that the cheese would be banned by the European Union. The mozzarella is made from buffalo milk which had been tainted with high levels of dioxin. Though the dioxin scare had existed for months and more than 80 buffalo herds had already been quarantined, there was not any official recall of the product.

Following import bans on buffalo mozzarella by South Korea and Japan, however, Italy agreed to recall the cheese after the EU threatened to ban it as well. Fast Facts:

1. Dioxin has been known to cause cancer
2. Sales of buffalo mozzarella plummeted since scare
3. Italy claims no contaminated cheese has been exported
4. Contamination blamed on illegal waste dumping in Naples
5. Waste management controlled by Italian mafia
6. Naples mafia is called the Camorra
7. Buffalo mozzarella costs twice as much as cow's milk mozzarella
8. Mozzarella often eaten on pizza or on its own

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