The Carabinieri police health protection unit (NAS) has found irregularities in 38% of inspections and seized two tonnes of traditional Italian 'dove'cakes and chocolate eggs collectively worth over 267,000 euros in the run-up to Easter, sources said on Friday.
In total NAS Carabinieri carried out more than 840 inspections of production facilities and shops selling Easter eggs and the left cakes shaped like a dove and coated in icing and whole almonds.
Irregularities were reportedly found in 324 companies, with 574 criminal and administrative violations amounting to 425,000 euros contested.
Six shop owners were reported to the judicial authorities and 15 orders of closure or suspension of activities were issued, with an estimated economic value of over 5 million euros.
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