Italian minister's award to pasta seller who sold industrial goods as artisanal sparks outrage

Italian Agriculture Minister Francesco Lollobrigida's recent visit to Bari has ignited a fierce debate after he presented an award to Nunzia Caputo, a local pasta maker. Caputo had previously been fined for selling industrial pasta, passed off as fresh, artisanal product, to tourists.

The minister, accompanied by Health Undersecretary Marcello Gemmato, visited Caputo's stall in the historic old town. This visit has drawn sharp criticism, particularly from within Lollobrigida's own Fratelli d'Italia party, whose members have voiced their outrage in online chat groups.

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But how can a minister give an award to someone who sells industrial goods disguised as artisanal?

Critics question the appropriateness of a government minister honoring an individual previously implicated in illegal practices. They point to an incident a year prior when local police fined Caputo and others for selling factory-produced pasta as homemade, without proper receipts or permits. The conditions under which the pasta was displayed, exposed to the elements and potential contaminants in the narrow alleyways, have also raised health concerns.

While Lollobrigida also recognized a local bakery that adheres to all regulations, the focus has remained on the controversy surrounding Caputo. This event has reignited past criticisms from the right-wing, who had previously opposed the regional government's support for Caputo, viewing her as a symbol of what they considered an "orecchietta scam."

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Is it normal to give recognition to someone who operated illegally for decades?