Singapore halts Italian mozzarella sales on scare

SINGAPORE, March 29 (Reuters) - Singapore has stopped sales of all Italian mozzarella cheese made from buffalo milk after Italy on Friday ordered a recall of the product that was potentially contaminated with cancer-causing dioxin.

Singapore's Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) said it had stopped all sales of the cheese pending laboratory tests as a precautionary measure.

The last import of Italian buffalo mozzarella cheese into Singapore was on Jan. 6, but due to limited information it was unclear if the imported cheese was contaminated, the AVA said.

Italy's Health Ministry said on Friday it was withdrawing products from 25 companies in the Campania region, where Italy's best buffalo mozzarella is produced.

France briefly prohibited sales of some Italian mozzarella on Friday, but revoked the ban hours later after winning Rome's assurances that none of the suspect cheese was exported there. Japan and South Korea had already blocked imports. (Reporting by Jennifer Tan; Editing by Alex Richardson) (jennifer.tan@reuters.com; +65-6403 5660; Reuters Messaging: jennifer.tan.reuters.com@reuters.net)