Mass milk recall « Euro Weekly News

A food safety alert has recently shaken Italy, following the precautionary recall of several batches of pasteurised milk from well-known brands.

The decision, which has affected major supermarkets such as Carrefour, Coop, Esselunga and Bennet, comes after suspicions of foreign objects inside some milk containers – specifically, tiny fragments of rubber from a seal in one of the machines used during packaging.

The recall was issued by Centrale del Latte d’Italia, one of the country’s leading dairy distributors, based in Vicenza and part of the NewPrinces group (formerly Newlat Food). According to its president, Angelo Mastrolia, the action was “purely preventive”, as no actual contamination has been confirmed, nor have any health issues been reported by consumers.

“It’s just a suspicion. During a routine weekly inspection, we found a tiny tear in a rubber seal. If there were any residue, it would be smaller than a millimetre and pose no health risk,” Mastrolia told Italian newspaper Il Gusto.

Affected Brands

The initial recall applied to the following brands:

Polenghi Lombardo
Mukki
Latteria Soresina

Later, the Italian Ministry of Health extended the alert to other brands produced in the same facility:

Latte Verona
Fior di Maso
Giglio
Cappuccino Lovers

In total, seven brands are involved. The affected product is whole milk, pasteurised at high temperature and sold in 1-litre plastic bottles.

Batch Codes and Expiry Dates

The recalled batches have been clearly identified, with the following expiry dates and batch codes:

15/05/25B – Polenghi, Mukki and Soresina
16/05/25B – Polenghi and Soresina
17/05/25B – Polenghi only

Italian authorities have advised consumers not to drink these products and to return them to the point of purchase for a refund.

What kind of “foreign object” is it?

While the initial recall did not specify the material involved, Mastrolia later clarified that the concern is over microscopic bits of rubber from a seal, which comes into contact with milk during processing. There is no suspicion of metal or glass.

“There are no steel fragments or metal objects. It’s food-grade rubber. There’s no real danger, but we acted with full transparency and responsibility,” Mastrolia added.

Wider Impact and Takeaway

Health authorities have praised Centrale del Latte d’Italia for its proactive stance, stressing the importance of routine checks and traceability in the food industry. Still, the incident highlights the need for more frequent inspections of critical components in production systems.

As Mastrolia put it:

“This isn’t about everyday cleaning – these are high-precision technical inspections, carried out within the timeframes set by food safety regulations.”

Though the alert has not been officially extended beyond Italy, the company operates across Europe, and the case serves as a reminder of how essential robust food safety protocols are across the EU.

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