Russian poultry – high levels of antibiotics, microorganisms

High levels of antibiotics have been found in poultry following an independent investigation of six Russian poultry firms.

The investigation, carried out by Roskontrol, uncovered evidence of large quantities of antibiotics, dangerous bacteria and traces of injections of brine, used to increase the product’s density.

According to Pravda, almost all the samples of poultry showed higher levels of microorganisms, which exceeded the norm, with some up to 30 times higher.

One sample of a product from a popular brand contained listeria and almost all the chicken leg quarters had traces of injections of brine, used to increase the weight of the product.

The content of protein was also found to be lower than was indicated on the packaging of all but one of the samples.

It is not the first time in recent months that concerns have been expressed about the state of the Russian poultry industry. At the end of 2016, the Russian watchdog Rospotrebnadzor instituted an administrative proceeding against Canskaya Poultry Farm, following the identification of metronidazole residues in several egg shipments that the farm supplied.

The Kemerovo Technological Institute of Food Industry has said that residues of antibiotics in Russia are found in 15-26% of livestock and poultry products, claiming that choloramphenicol is the most widespread antibiotic.