Wine Scare Poses No Health Risks

"L'Espresso" (Italian magazine) covered the wine scam's six-month long probe in last week's edition calling it the ''biggest case of food adulteration ever to be uncovered in Italy," largely blaming organized crime in the south, pointing out the suspected chemical suppliers to wine-making plants near Taranto in Puglia, Enoagri and Vmc. 600,000 bottles of a well-known red Tuscan brand were seized by police after the Brunello was supposedly cut with inferior grapes to boost quantities.

"L'Espresso" reported that eight northern Italian wine-making companies and 12 in Puglia and Sicily were under investigation.

European Union Health spokeswoman Nina Papadoulaki reported, "The Italian authorities have informed us that their investigations have confirmed that this is purely a case of adulteration of wine and that there is no health risk," and that toxic chemicals were not the issue, but rather ''water and sugar.'' Brussels confirmed analogous reassurances from Rome .

Rumors of contaminated wine from Italy spread across Europe last week like wildfire, causing a scare as a suspected 70 million liters were reportedly poisoned with fertilizer and sulphuric and hydrochloric acid, among other toxic substances.

"L'Espresso" covered the wine scam's six-month long probe in last week's edition calling it the ''biggest case of food adulteration ever to be uncovered in Italy," largely blaming organized crime in the south, pointing out the suspected chemical suppliers to wine-making plants near Taranto in Puglia, Enoagri and Vmc. 600,000 bottles of a well-known red Tuscan brand were seized by police after the Brunello was supposedly cut with inferior grapes to boost quantities.

"L'Espresso" reported that eight northern Italian wine-making companies and 12 in Puglia and Sicily were under investigation.

European Union Health spokeswoman Nina Papadoulaki reported, "The Italian authorities have informed us that their investigations have confirmed that this is purely a case of adulteration of wine and that there is no health risk," and that toxic chemicals were not the issue, but rather ''water and sugar.'' Brussels confirmed analogous reassurances from Rome .