Italian envoy condemns anti-smell poster

0 Comments | AFP, July, 2004

LONDON (AFP) — Italy's ambassador to London succeeded in getting withdrawn a public service poster on the grounds that it was offensive to his countrymen and libellous of their food.

The poster was aimed at stamping out the widespread habit of passengers on the capital's underground system of eating during their journeys, a practice many of their fellow travellers dislike because of the smell.

The offending poster showed an Italian charcutier (pork butcher) sitting in an underground train surrounded by Parma hams and Italian salami sausages.

Ambassador Giancarlo Aragaona personally conveyed his "disappointment" to London mayor Ken Livingstone and the poster was withdrawn. The underground authorities apologised to the Italian community and the manufacturers...