Milan, Oct. 23 - Italy's antitrust regulator said on Tuesday it has opened an inquiry into two possible price agreements which could have limited competition in pasta-making.
Italian pasta makers have hiked prices this year as durum wheat used for making the trademark Italian food nearly doubled in price, triggering public uproar in the pasta-loving country.
The antitrust regulator, prompted by consumers, said in a statement it has decided to open inquiries into possible anti-competition accords by Italian pasta makers association UNIPI and UnionAlimentare, the union of small and medium-size food makers.
The regulator said it would look into whether UNIPI, which represents 85 percent of Italian pasta makers, has agreed to hike prices and whether comments by UnionAlimentare chairman about the pasta price rise had influenced the sector.
There were no immediate comments from UNIPI or UnionAlimentare.