Products claiming to contain buffalo mozzarella frequently diluted, scientists claim

Dishes containing buffalo mozzarella diluted with cows' milk are frequently mislabeled in restaurants and supermarkets, researchers have claimed.

Scientists from food research group the Quadram Institute in Norwich found that of those tested, two-thirds of supermarket pizza, restaurant pizza and other restaurant dishes which claimed to be made with buffalo mozzarella contained at least some cows' milk.

In some cases products were found to be made with 100% cows' milk. However, there was less dilution found in supermarket cheeses specifically labelled as mozzarella, with no signs of adulteration in any subject tested.

It comes after the group developed a new test to detect the subtle difference in peptides contained within buffalo and cows' milk, helping them to uncover false claims that cheese contains 100% buffalo products.

Professor Kate Kemsley, who led the research team, said: "The scale and complexity of modern food supply chains means that they are increasingly vulnerable to fraud.

"We're hoping that by harnessing the latest technologies we can help to monitor and uncover food mislabelling, but it will need a concerted effort from across the industry and regulators to really tackle authenticity problems like this in the food sector."

Serving a red herring? Seven per cent of fish found to be cheaper alternatives >>