ROME, April 29 (RIA Novosti) - All Italian dairy produce, including mozzarella, is safe for consumption, Italy's health and agriculture ministries said in a joint statement on Tuesday.
A temporary ban on buffalo mozzarella cheese, one of Italy's much-loved products and primary exports, was introduced in late March after high levels of dioxins - chemical contaminants which may cause cancer - were found in samples of buffalo milk.
The ministries said the farms producing cheese with excessive dioxin levels have now been traced and the appropriate safety measures taken.
Some experts link the high levels of dioxin to illegal toxic waste dumps close to the pastures where buffalo graze. The dumps have been blamed on an organized crime group in southern Italy.
According to press reports, around 30,000 tons of mozzarella cheese worth half a billion dollars in sales, are annually produced in Italy.
