More than 500 health and safety inspectors¹ with the Italian military police mounted（安装，骑上 ） a massive nationwide holiday crackdown on unsafe Christmas toys and food.

 

According to Italian authorities, 350 tons of food and 50,000 decorations and dangerous toys valued at approximately 3 million euros were seized in "Operation Santa Claus." Agents in 38 separate units conducted surprise inspections² of warehouses³ and producers of traditional sweets, fish and meat destined⁴ for Italian Christmas tables, according to Italian media reports. More than 2,000 violations⁵ were signalled, resulting in the closure of 89 structures.

 

In Bologna, chocolate, pistachios（开心果）, nuts and raisins⁶ (some four years expired) were found stored in dirty conditions, crawling with cockroaches⁷（蟑螂）.

 

In Caserta, dried cod⁸ – an Italian holiday staple⁹ – was found to have been rehydrated（再水化） with non-potable water and whitened with lime to make it seem fresher than it was. Four tons of trout¹⁰ were confiscated¹¹ from a farm near the city of Udine because there was no proper documentation of necessary fish farm sanitary¹² regulations.

 

In Milan, 27,000 Christmas ornaments¹³ were seized that had been Made in China and imported into Italy from France, but lacked proper safety requirements and labelling. Agents seized another 21,000 Christmas toys, candles, ornaments and lights in Parma, Genoa, Rome and Ancona.

 

With an economic crisis squeezing the nation, Christmas spending is expected to be down significantly this year in Italy. According to consumer associations Federconsumatori and Adusbef, Italians' buying power has declined 13.2 percent since 2008, to an estimated 148 euros per family this Christmas. The percentage of Italians not giving gifts also rose from 11.8 percent in 2011 to 13.7 percent in 2012, according to a survey by consumer organization Confcommercio-Format.

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