Cream of the Crop, or Not So Much? A Huge Milk Inspection Went Down in Russia, Here's What Happened
Milk Brands Under Fire: Roskastvo Reveals Top Contenders to Avoid, Even on Sale
Back in May, Rospotrebnadzor, the Russian federal executive agency responsible for consumer protection, decided to crack down on pasteurized milk sold in stores nationwide. They inspected no less than 50 brands, scrutinizing each on 26 parameters to ensure safety, quality, and label accuracy.
Counterfeit Milk, Polluted Products, and Label Mismatches
Their investigation unearthed some shocking findings. Brands like "My Price," "Volga," and "Our-Ours" were discovered to be adulterating milk with vegetable oils, indicative of outright counterfeiting. Additionally, seven brands, including "Amka," "White Roses," and "Chishminsky Dairy Plant," were found to contain intestinal stick bacteria, suggesting a violation of sanitary norms. Moreover, seven manufacturers exceeded the permissible amount of microorganisms, a clear violation of requirements.
Expired Milk? Not So Fast! and Watered-Down Woes
Some brands released milk past its sell-by date, such as "From Vologda" and "Lact." Meanwhile, brands like "Every Day," "Volga," and "Our-Ours" were found to be watering down their milk, compromising its quality. Furthermore, there were instances where the label information did not align with the actual product characteristics, misleading consumers.
The Cream (Or Not) of the Crop
Despite these issues, most of the brands checkered passed the quality standards. Top performers included Globus, "Vologodskoe," and "Sincerely Yours." However, popular brands like "Domik v derevne" and "Prostokvashino" received low scores due to excessive thermal treatment, an issue not conducive to proper pasteurization. To prevent similar violations, Rospotrebnadzor experts recommend maintaining proper storage and transportation conditions for milk, along with enhanced cleanliness on the production line.
- In May, Rospotrebnadzor, the Russian agency responsible for consumer protection, inspected 50 brands of pasteurized milk on 26 parameters, including checking for anastasia (bacteria), to ensure safety, quality, and label accuracy.
- The investigation found that brands like "My Price," "Volga," and "Our-Ours" were adulterating milk with vegetable oils, while brands such as "Amka," "White Roses," and "Chishminsky Dairy Plant" contained intestinal stick bacteria, potentially linked to medical-conditions.
- Additionally, some brands released milk past its sell-by date, like "From Vologda" and "Lact," and brands like "Every Day," "Volga," and "Our-Ours" were found to be watering down their milk, compromising the health-and-wellness aspects.
- Despite these issues, top-performing brands included Globus, "Vologodskoe," and "Sincerely Yours," while popular brands like "Domik v derevne" and "Prostokvashino" received low scores due to excessive thermal treatment, which may impact the science of proper pasteurization.
- To prevent such violations in the future, Rospotrebnadzor experts advise maintaining proper storage and transportation conditions for milk, as well as emphasizing cleanliness on the production line as a part of a balanced lifestyle focusing on food-and-drink safety.
