#FoodSafety #QualityControl #ConsumerProtection #ProduceTesting #PesticideDetection #FreshProduce #RussianMarket
In a bid to address concerns about the quality of fresh produce in Russia, Roskachestvo, the Federal Agency for Quality Control and Consumer Protection, has announced plans to conduct thorough tests on vegetables and mushrooms sold in the country. The focus of these tests will be on the presence of pesticides and nitrates, with results expected to be revealed in the latter half of September, according to information shared with RIA Novosti.
Earlier findings indicated that a quarter of Russians were dissatisfied with the quality of the available fresh vegetables.
The investigation by Roskachestvo will encompass a range of vegetables, including tomatoes, cucumbers, and other produce, evaluating their nitrate content and the presence of an extended list of 750 pesticides. Additionally, the study will encompass mushrooms. The release of the test results is scheduled for the second half of September 2023, as stated by the organization.
Recent data from the Consumer Behavior Research Center of Roskachestvo revealed that 29% of Russians believe that tomatoes contain the highest levels of pesticides and nitrates, while 28% attribute this to potatoes. Approximately one in four individuals suspect mushrooms, and every fifth person suspects cucumbers to contain significant amounts of these substances. Consumers expressed fewer concerns about carrots, zucchinis, and celery.
Towards the end of the previous year, Roskachestvo, in collaboration with Online Market Intelligence (OMI), found that 24% of Russians were dissatisfied with the quality of fresh vegetables available in the market.
Notably, Roskachestvo had previously conducted thorough tests on tomatoes from popular brands, evaluating them against 99 parameters. While the tested samples met safety requirements, it was discovered that the tomatoes contained 72 pesticides not regulated by safety standards. Some of these substances were detected in tomatoes from various brands.
This ongoing effort by Roskachestvo to ensure the safety and quality of fresh produce is expected to contribute significantly to consumer confidence and make informed choices about their food purchases.
