A Closer Look at Rospotrebnadzor's Dairy Product Inspections in Zabaykalsky Krai, First Half of 2025
Zabaicali's Food SafetyWatch discovered irregularities in milk quality checks
In the first six months of 2025, Rospotrebnadzor, the federal consumer rights and public health authority in Zabaykalsky Krai, intensified its inspections of dairy products. These checks were carried out across various sectors, including educational institutions, food processing organizations, catering, wholesale, and retail trade.
The Reasons Behind the Intensified Inspections
The increased scrutiny was primarily due to public health concerns, arising from sporadic cases of foodborne illnesses and contamination in dairy products. Additionally, the federal government's renewed focus on improving food safety standards nationwide, with emphasis on regional producers who supply local markets, played a significant role.
The rise in complaints about adulterated dairy products, such as the dilution of milk or mislabeling, also contributed to the intensified inspections. Moreover, the implementation of updated sanitary and epidemiological standards effective from 2025 necessitated thorough compliance checks.
Findings from the Inspections
The inspections revealed several issues:
- Non-compliance with Hygiene Standards: Some local producers were found lacking adequate sanitary measures during production and storage.
- Presence of Pathogenic Microorganisms: Samples from a few dairies tested positive for bacteria like Listeria monocytogenes and coliforms, posing a risk to consumers.
- Labeling Discrepancies: Several products were mislabeled in terms of fat content, origin, or expiration dates.
- Use of Unapproved Additives: A small number of products contained additives not approved under Russian food standards.
Despite these issues, many producers demonstrated compliance with the newer, stricter standards compared to previous years.
Impact on the Dairy Industry in Zabaykalsky Krai
The inspections had several short-term and long-term effects on the dairy industry in the region:
- Short-term Disruptions: Some small-scale producers had to temporarily halt operations to address violations, leading to supply disruptions.
- Increased Costs: Dairy businesses faced increased costs due to investments in better sanitation equipment, staff training, and certification processes.
- Enhanced Consumer Confidence: Public trust improved as Rospotrebnadzor’s efforts reassured consumers about product safety.
- Market Consolidation: Smaller, non-compliant producers risked being pushed out, leading to a potential consolidation around larger, compliant companies.
- Long-term Industry Benefits: Improvements in product quality and safety standards are expected to open up wider markets, including for export, boosting the regional economy.
Seizure of Non-Compliant Dairy Products
As a result, 18 batches of dairy products totaling 82.2 liters were seized. The seized dairy products did not comply with hygienic standards for physical-chemical indicators and labeling. The failure to meet hygienic standards was related to these 18 batches. The seizure of the dairy products was a direct outcome of the quality and safety control checks conducted by Rospotrebnadzor.
The results of these checks were reported in the Telegram channel of Rospotrebnadzor. A total of 248 samples of dairy products were taken and tested for compliance with sanitary-chemical, physical-chemical, and microbiological indicators. Out of these samples, 17 did not meet hygienic standards for physical-chemical indicators and labeling.
The checks and visits were conducted by Rospotrebnadzor, a service in the Zabaykalsky Krai. In the first half of 2025, Rospotrebnadzor conducted 65 control and oversight activities in the region, with a focus on the quality of dairy products. Additionally, Rospotrebnadzor conducted 6567 preventive visits in organizations involved in dairy product turnover in the first half of 2025. These visits were carried out across various sectors such as education, food processing, catering, wholesale, and retail trade. The checks and visits were conducted in various sectors to ensure thorough examination of the dairy industry in the region.
- The intensified inspections of dairy products by Rospotrebnadzor in Zabaykalsky Krai during the first half of 2025 were not only limited to dairy but also extended to health-and-wellness, lifestyle, food-and-drink, and general-news sectors, as these sectors often intertwine with public health concerns.
- As the federal government's renewed focus on improving food safety standards had implications beyond dairy products, Rospotrebnadzor's inspections in 2025 could potentially influence the overall health-and-wellness landscape in Zabaykalsky Krai.
- With increased consumer confidence in the safety of dairy products due to Rospotrebnadzor's intensified inspections in the first half of 2025, the local dairy industry might experience growth in areas such as health-and-wellness, food-and-drink, and general-news, as consumers become more inclined to embrace these products.
