“Virus free certifications, difficulties in getting raw materials from Europe and a false communication that, under the pretext of satire, is hitting Made in Italy F&B products. All this is unjustly putting Italian food excellences in trouble.” Ivano Vacondio, president of Italy’s food and beverage industry association Federalimentare, comments on the worrying consequences that are occurring due to the coronavirus emergency.
“What is happening these days to our products – Vacondio says – is the result of incorrect communication, when not unfair commercial practices. But the problem is that such information touches the health of consumers, creating in them an understandable concern that can easily turn into a refusal to buy and eat Italian food”.
Italian food, however, is safe and does not run any risk with the coronavirus outbreak but “this psychological terrorism on our products could induce an even greater braking of Italy’s economy. Given this situation, it is not enough that the food industry alone reassures consumers. So we ask EFSA, the European Food Safety Authority, to be the guarantor of our products” – says the president of Federalimentare.