POLICE SEIZE ONE MILLION EUROS OF BALSAMIC VINEGAR

POLICE SEIZE ONE MILLION EUROS OF BALSAMIC VINEGAR

(ANSA) - Modena, November 4 - Police in Modena on Wednesday seized over one million euros of balsamic vinegar produced in violation of the traditional recipe.

According to police, the batch of 161,000 litres was bottled without first being aged in wooden casks for two months, a fundamental requirement for the internationally protected label.

Police said the 323,000 confiscated bottles would be relabled and distributed as simple salad dressing.

Hailing the seizure,farmersunion Coldiretti lamented that ''there are at least 25 different imitations of balsamic vinegar on the market today,'' making it one of the most copied Italian staples in the world.

In July, Modena's treasured vinegar obtained European Union Protected Geographical Indication status to distinguish the genuine article from cheap imitations.

But Coldiretti said governments needed to tighten legislation on knock-offs ''to prevent them from breaking the link between real balsamic vinegar and the place where it originated''.

The balsamic vinegar market brings in around 240 million euros per year, close to 80% from foreign exports.

However, the Modena original is up against growing competition from vinegars made in the US, Spain, Greece and Chile, which Coldiretti said threatens local producers.

Italy's drive to defend its culinary glories has resulted in over 175 EU quality seals for products like Parmigiano, buffalo mozzarella, mortadella, lardo di Colonnata, Ascoli olives, pesto sauce and Pachino plum tomatos.

Modena won another EU protected label last month for a traditional sour cherry jam.