Seafood on the “blacklist”. Scandal in Italy after a series of poisonings

The authorities of Naples have banned the serving of raw seafood in restaurants there. This is related to the increase in the number of hepatitis A cases recorded in the city. The urgent regulation was signed by Mayor Gaetano Manfredi. Penalties of up to EUR 20,000 may be imposed for violating the ban.

The marked increase in the number of hepatitis A cases recorded for several weeks has begun to worry the city authorities, local media from southern Italy reported. More than 150 cases have been recorded; much more than in previous years.

The illnesses have been linked to seafood because several batches of clams and oysters from the area were found to be contaminated with the virus that causes them. Sanitary services confirmed that this contamination was most likely the source of the local outbreak of the disease.

The mayor's regulation states that the purpose of the steps taken is to “protect the health of residents.”

Naples authorities also advised residents not to eat raw seafood in their homes and to follow a series of food safety tips to avoid the risk of infections.

On Monday, fish and seafood sellers protested in front of the city hall. As they said, they were suffering large financial losses because of the ban.

– Everything cannot be reduced to a ban without establishing the real cause and defining the real limits of the increase in hepatitis cases. We are ruined, no one buys anything from us anymore, said a spokesman for the protesters.

Sylwia Wysocka from Rome (PAP)

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