Mice excrement and carcasses were found by police at a warehouse in the city, leading to the seizure of 2000 cheese rounds weighing about 80 tonnes, according to the Russian news agency RIA Novosti.

The cheese, produced by a local manufacturer, was partly destroyed with further tests determining whether other samples are still safe for consumption, according to the report.

Parma is famously associated as a key area for the production of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese.