In Italy, a scandal erupted over food fraud. The essence of the scandal is that grapes, the cost of which reaches up to a million euros, were fraudulently used to make balsamic vinegar.

Balsamic vinegar is a unique thick sweet and sour seasoning obtained by processing grape must. So, balsamic vinegar from the ancient Italian city of Modena, according to the rules of the European Union, is a product with a protected geographical name, in order to have this name, grapes must be obtained from several certain places in Italy.

But, it was discovered by Italian authorities that the “table grapes” were actually sold to several companies producing traditional balsamic vinegar. Having launched an investigation called Operation Global Wine, the authorities eventually seized over 9,000 tons of grape must and wine products worth about 15 million euros .

Italian Agriculture Minister Gian Marco Centinio thanked the investigators for “protecting the good name of our products and ensuring the safety and quality of the Made in Italy brand.” Although balsamic vinegar can be bought at low prices at most local Italian supermarkets, some traditional and authentic vinegars can cost hundreds of euros .