In Palma Campania, a town in the province of Naples, a controversy has erupted that is causing discussion throughout Italy. Ironically renamed “Bangla Campania” due to the large presence of Bangladeshi citizens – about 2.500 out of 15 inhabitants, or 15% of the population – the town is now at the center of a controversial ordinance.
Mayor, Aniello Donnarumma, has decided to ban “unpleasant food odors”, with fines of up to 500 euros for those who cook dishes, often of ethnic origin, considered “too smelly”. But the initiative, designed to promote integration, is instead fueling tensions and accusations of discrimination.
An Ordinance Against “Unpleasant Odors”
The ordinance, issued on May 6, 2025, aims to regulate the culinary habits of residents, especially those of foreign communities, such as the Bangladeshi one, which is one of the largest in the municipality.
“It is not a question of racism, but of coexistence,” declared Mayor Donnarumma, elected with a centre-right civic list.We have received many reports from Italian citizens who complain about strong smells of spices and fried food coming from the condominiums. We want to protect everyone, Italians and foreigners, promoting mutual respect".
The ordinance states that anyone who issues “unpleasant odors” – such as curry, garlic or fried foods – during food preparation can be fined, with penalties ranging from 200 to 500 euros.
To identify violations, the Municipality has instructed the municipal police to carry out checks, also through reports from neighbors. In addition, "Guidelines for a good coexistence”, which includes practical advice such as the use of powerful extractor hoods and the recommendation to avoid cooking that generates strong odors, especially at sensitive times such as lunch or dinner.
What About Factories? An Ignored Problem
But while cooking odors have been singled out for scrutiny, some point to a glaring contradiction: the ordinance completely ignores the far more offensive odors emitted by some factories in the area.
Day and night, industrial plants release stench that forces residents to stay indoors, with an impact on quality of life far more serious than that of ethnic foods.
“The smell of curry is like a perfume in comparison,” complains one resident.Factories pollute the air non-stop, and no one does anything. There should also be an ordinance to ban these unpleasant odors, not only for food”. The lack of attention to such an evident problem makes one think that the ordinance on ethnic odors is more of a cosmetic action than a real solution to the problems of coexistence.
A Community Divided: Integration or Discrimination?
The initiative immediately sparked mixed reactions. The Bangladeshi community, which runs over 50 businesses in Palma Campania, including restaurants and clothing stores, feels targeted.Cooking our dishes is part of our culture, it is not a crime”, protests a Bangladeshi resident who has lived in the city for 15 years. “If the smells are annoying, we can talk about it, but getting to such heavy fines is unfair".
Even many local Italians are critical: “Isn't the smell of ragù or fried fish annoying to some people? Why not fine that too?”, asks a citizen on a local social group. The risk, according to many, is that the ordinance ends up fueling divisions rather than encouraging integration.
Palma Campania, which in recent years has seen a significant growth in the foreign population – especially Bangladeshis employed in the textile industry and in hazelnut harvesting – is an example of multicultural coexistence, but also of challenges. The Bangladeshi community contributes to the local economy, with an annual turnover of about 3 million euros in the textile sector alone, yet it often faces prejudice and difficulties in integration.
A Measure That Causes Discussion
Palma Campania's ordinance is not the first of its kind in Italy - similar precedents have been seen in Sesto San Giovanni and Capriate San Gervasio - but it is the first to affect a southern town with such a significant presence of foreigners. The mayor insists that the goal is not to discriminate, but to "regulate a coexistence that sometimes becomes difficult."
However, the application methods raise questions: how can an “annoying odor” be objectively measured? And who decides which odors are acceptable and which are not? Civil rights associations have already announced that they will evaluate an appeal, calling the ordinance “a veiled attack on cultural diversity".
Meanwhile, in Palma Campania, the tension is palpable: on one side, those who support the mayor and ask for stricter rules; on the other, those who see the measure as a step backwards in building an inclusive community.Bangla Campania” risks becoming a symbol, but not of integration: rather, of a coexistence that, for now, seems more difficult than ever. #PalmaCampania #BanglaCampania #OrdinanzaOdori
Article published on May 14, 2025, at 16:48 AM - Matteo Setaro
The ordinance banning food odors is a complex issue and not easy to judge. There are different points of view. Italian citizens complain, but the Bangladeshi community also has the right to express its culinary culture. It is a difficult situation.
It is true that there are more serious problems, such as the smells from the factories. But we must also consider the complaints of the residents. Perhaps a compromise could have been found to please everyone.
Comments (2)
The ordinance banning food odors is a complex issue and not easy to judge. There are different points of view. Italian citizens complain, but the Bangladeshi community also has the right to express its culinary culture. It is a difficult situation.
It is true that there are more serious problems, such as the smells from the factories. But we must also consider the complaints of the residents. Perhaps a compromise could have been found to please everyone.