圣誕節來臨前夕，500多名意大利衛生與安全檢查員與軍警一起出動，對全國各地的圣誕禮品和食品進行突擊檢查。此次行動被命名為“圣誕老人行動”，目前已有350噸食品和5萬件圣誕裝飾品和玩具被沒收，總價值達300萬歐元。2000多處違規地點被查出，并有89處被強行關閉。在博洛尼亞一家食品倉庫，巧克力、堅果和葡萄干等食物存放地點極不衛生，上面爬滿了蟑螂，有些葡萄干已經過期4年。在米蘭，有2.7萬件中國生產經法國進口到意大利的圣誕裝飾因沒有正規的安全信息和標簽而被沒收。受經濟危機影響，意大利今年的圣誕支出將會大幅減少。圣誕期間不送禮的意大利人從去年的11.8%上升到了13.7%。

?More than 500 health and safety inspectors with the Italian military police mounted a massive nationwide holiday crackdown on unsafe Christmas toys and food.

More than 500 health and safety inspectors with the Italian military police mounted 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 inspections of warehouses and producers of traditional sweets, fish and meat destined for Italian Christmas tables, according to Italian media reports. More than 2,000 violations were signalled, resulting in the closure of 89 structures.

In Bologna, chocolate, pistachios, nuts and raisins (some four years expired) were found stored in dirty conditions, crawling with cockroaches.

In Caserta, dried cod – an Italian holiday staple – was found to have been rehydrated with non-potable water and whitened with lime to make it seem fresher than it was. Four tons of trout were confiscated from a farm near the city of Udine because there was no proper documentation of necessary fish farm sanitary regulations.

In Milan, 27,000 Christmas ornaments 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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(Agencies)

（中國日報網英語點津 Helen 編輯）