The Hellenic Food Safety Authority announced that they found high level of dioxins in the mortadella sausages imported from Italy. More specifically, according to the notification the Italian company “ALCISA” distributed to the Greek company “Tzelepis V. and Co – Avlos” around 1 340kg of mortadella with the brand name “ALCISA” and number of the shipment is 8325060. Out of this, 600kg were seized by the District Administration of Central Macedonia under the directions of the Organization for Food Control.

The rest of the shipment was distributed on the market by the companies “Hrisopoulos Yoanis,” “D. Masoutis Jsc,” “Afroditi,”” Liandas H. and Co,” “Zlatidis Stefanos,” “Kazaridi Brothers,” and “Karayanis Yoanis.” We address everyone who has already bought the product from the above mentioned companies not to consume it” this is stated in the notice of the organization.

3 100kg of cold cuts Mortadella from the same Italian company reached Rhode Island but are in the warehouses of the Greek company that bought them. The Hellenic Food Safety Authority announced that “pepperoni” is also distributed on the Greek market, which is produced out of Irish pork meat. Because it is suspected that it might be infected with dioxins the company distributor “FOOD PLUS” immediately started its seizure from the market.

In order to calm down the citizens, the organization noted that short time consumption of dioxins does not cause health problems. Also, a report from December 10th, 2008 of the European Service for Food Safety says that there is no threat for the health of the community. Meanwhile the European Commission confirmed that the dioxin poisoned pork comes from the same factory in Ireland and added that is expects data about a possibly poisoned beef as well.

Irish Agricultural Minister Brendan Smith confirmed that many cow herds have eaten from the same food, which had poisoned the pigs with dioxins. The Minister reassured that possibility of health danger is very small and the community is safe.