Russia widens McDonalds food probe Updated 9 minutes ago McDonalds outlet in Moscow - file pic McDonalds operates hundreds of restaurants in Russia Russias main consumer watchdog has announced unscheduled checks on a number of McDonalds restaurants around Russia as part of an investigation into food standards. The move comes after watchdog Rospotrebnadzor temporarily shut four McDonalds restaurants in Moscow. The actions come amid rising tensions and sanctions between Russia and the West over the crisis in the Ukraine. Rospotrebnadzor denied that the checks were politically motivated. There are complaints about the quality and safety of the products in fast food restaurant chain McDonalds, said the regulatory agency. Russia has previously used its food standards watchdog to ban products when diplomatic tensions have been high, including wine from Georgia, cheese from Ukraine and apples from Poland. BBC Moscow correspondent Steve Rosenberg said: It does seem, if not the public, then the people in power, are losing their appetite for American fast food. Microbiology tests Unscheduled checks will be made in McDonalds restaurants in the region of Sverdlovsk in west-central Russia, the Volga region of Tatarstan, the central Voronezh region, and the Moscow region. A McDonalds spokeswoman for European operations said the company was aware that the regulator was carrying out the checks, which would be likely to continue for a couple of months. The spokeswoman added that McDonalds serves millions of customers a day in Russia, and wanted minimal disruption for them. A McDonalds spokeswoman in Russia added: We have always been and are now open to any checks. According to the Ria Novosti state news agency, checks have been ordered across Russias Central Federal District, and that inspections of McDonalds in all of Russias regions will take place. There has been a selection of microbiology tests, sanitary and chemical tests, and identification indicators, the watchdog said. Food bans The checks and restaurant closures come amid a background of diplomatic tensions and tit-for-tat sanctions between Russia and the West over the crisis in the Ukraine. The West has accused Russia of supporting pro-Russian militants. Earlier this month, Russia imposed an embargo on food imports from the EU, US and some other Western countries, in response to sanctions over Ukraine. On Wednesday, the regulator temporarily closed four Moscow restaurants as part of an ongoing investigation of McDonalds. The first ever McDonalds in Pushkin Square, which opened 24 years ago, was one of the outlets that was shut. Restaurants on Manezh Square, Svobodny prospect 35b and Prospect Mira were also closed. According to Ria Novosti, the restaurants were closed after the watchdog alleged numerous breaches of health and safety regulations. BBC © 2014
Posted on: Thu, 21 Aug 2014 12:12:22 +0000
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