Buffalo Mozzarella – with illegal drugs

Buffalo Mozzarella There are two kinds of mozzarella. Buffalo mozzarella made from the milk of water buffalo cows, like the ones on the left. Mozzarella made from the milk of plain cows is “fiore di latte”. I never heard anybody in America asking for a “flower of milk” though. While you can find many good suppliers of local mozzarella or “flower of milk”, all buffalo mozzarella cheese in America is imported from Italy, mainly from the Campania region. Many are even DOP, certified “mozzarella di bufala campana”.

In the past few months, we sadly learned that these buffalo cows were grazing in contaminated fields in Campania, thanks to the Camorra‘s bad dealings. (Did you see the movie Gomorra?) The other day, a disturbing article in Corriere della Sera revealed that the Carabinieri (in the picture with the buffalo cows) found that out of 40 farm s, 25 were using a drug which is illegal in Europe to make the buffalo cows produce more milk. The drug was made in Korea and imported by the Camorra, of course, from Albania and Switzerland. Now, 25 out of 40 farms, seems to me incredible news. Why doesn’t anybody talk about it? Does the Camorra have a foot in the media, too? Do you know what you are eating?

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  1. There appears that there is no adverse effect on consumption by humans:
    http://www.diariodelweb.it/Articolo/Economia/?d=20090403&id=78161
    ..but of course anything to increase production and therefore $$$… even if it means putting the animals’ health at risk is still reprehensible.

  2. Thank you for the scientific perspective, John. Sadly, some things never change in Italy. More work for the “carabinieri”.
    a presto
    Martina

  3. Just for your information there are two producers of domestic water buffalo mozzarella, mozzarella di buffala, one is Bubalas in California, the other on the east coast.
    Thanks for informing about chemical treatment.

  4. The chemical is legal in the Usa, it is in every piece of meat Americans eat… So you ll be fine with contaminated buffalo mozzarella….
    It can t be worse than American meat anyway…
    Sad for Europe … Italy does not deserve to be in it…
    Alessia

  5. Beatrice says:

    i just learned that the old company which used to make mozzarella di bufala in Vermont sold to a family. they just started again. their tel # is 802 452 4540 and the person to speak to is jill. who is going to try first? will you pls let us know how it is? Viva la mozzarella from vermont!

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