Posted: December 30th, 2009 - 9:38pm by Doug Powell

Italian authorities have seized some 500 tons of bad seafood and shellfish believed to be largely destined for New Year's Eve dinner parties.

Agriculture Minister Luca Zaia said Wednesday that worms were found in some of the fish seized across Italy between Dec. 10-23. In other cases, mussels defrosted months earlier were passed off as fresh, and fish coming from Asia was passed off as domestic.

Zaia described the food as "garbage" including brine jellyfish, and said organized crime was likely behind it.