Alleged organic rice scam reported by Report: all accused producers acquitted

All the defendants were acquitted in the trial for fraud in the organic sector resulting from a report service that accused them of using pesticides

Don't store avocado like this: it's dangerous

Remember a few years ago the alleged organic rice scam which, according to the Report transmission, was not for real? Well, now the sentence has arrived that acquits all 5 rice producers in the Vercelli area involved in the "scandal".

It has been a long time since Report had broadcast a service dedicated to organic farming and in particular to rice crops in the Vercelli area. On that occasion, the Rai 3 broadcast had pointed the finger at some well-known producers who, following a complaint, had gone to trial on charges of fraud or attempted fraud.

Is organic a rip off? What we didn't like about the Report service

The producers were accused of growing and selling organic rice which, in fact, was not. Too many pesticide residues not authorized in organic farming had been found in the land and water of their rice fields.

The prosecutor of Vercelli essentially accused producers of growing rice using banned pesticides or, in any case, of not separating organic production from traditional ones.

The defense, however, managed to demonstrate that the traces of residues could very well derive from neighboring non-organic growers and that, in any case, what mattered was the final certification on the product. All the paddy rice marketed, according to the certifying companies called to lay, was actually organic.

In the end, therefore, all 5 producers (Chiara Dalmasso of the Euroagricola di Desana, Renato Delsignore owner of the homonymous firm at the Gardina di Bianzè farm, Gianluca Picco, of the homonymous agricultural firm of Bianzé, Benedetto Picco, Godino Triglio, of the Carpo Farm, based in the Carpo farmhouse in Livorno Ferraris) were acquitted by the single judge Cristina Barillari.

Source: Tg Vercelli