Rosselkhoznadzor found antibiotics in Chinese strawberries Strawberries

Rosselkhoznadzor recorded an excess of pesticides and the presence of antibiotics in strawberries coming to Russia from China. Berries are treated with antibacterial drugs for better preservation of products during transportation. This was told to journalists by the head of the department, Sergei Dankvert, RBC correspondent reports.

“It became interesting - a spoiled berry comes, but why mold does not develop at the same time. And everything is very simple - because they are doused with antibiotics, ”said Dankvert. According to him, even products imported in cellophane film do not contain any signs of deterioration. “Because they treated it with a spray gun - and let's go! Excellent quality, and no one knows what is inside, ”Dankvert emphasized. According to him, the presence of antibiotics of the streptomycin group in Chinese strawberries has been laboratory proven, while their use in other types of plant products from China is not ruled out.

At the same time, Dankvert notes, the presence of antibiotics in plant products is not regulated by law and, therefore, the department does not have the authority to withdraw such products from circulation. The technical regulation of the Customs Union does not contain a methodology for determining antibiotics in berries, so the department investigated strawberries using methods for dairy products. Earlier, the service drew the attention of Rospotrebnadzor to this problem, but did not receive a response, Dankvert said. “There is no methodology, this is not indicated in the technical regulations of the Customs Union on safety, which means that all this can be eaten,” Dankvert wonders. However, the use of antibiotics is detrimental to human HEALTH and is a sign of unfair competition, he stressed, recalling that strawberries from the Crimea will soon appear on the shelves.

Earlier, the agency revealed the use of antibiotics in the supply of cheese-like products from Belarus, Dankvert recalled. Suppliers, “considering that the cheese product can become moldy, simply wipe it with a cloth with natamycin before shipping - and nothing gets moldy, everything is wonderful,” the head of the Rosselkhoznadzor ironically says. According to him, in 2017 the department withdrew about 100 declarations on the quality of products from Belarus, including due to the presence of antibiotics in products. “Our colleagues from Rospotrebnadzor have not recalled a single one,” he assures.

RBC sent a request to Rospotrebnadzor.