Roskachestvo found listeria and E. coli in nuggets

Roskachestvo examined 20 brands of chicken nuggets. None of the items were highly rated.

Roskachestvo conducted a study of nuggets of 20 brands, which revealed that this product cannot be completely safe and can not be eaten without high-temperature processing, as some of them contain E. coli, Listeria and other violations of microbiological indicators, the press service reports. departments.

“There are no standards, but you hold on”

“Currently, there is no official term “nuggets” in RUSSIA. There are no standards for their production, which means that the composition of chicken nuggets is not regulated in any way: neither the composition of the breading, nor the additives that can be used. The manufacturer is free to prepare nuggets from mechanically deboned MEAT, that is, mixed with connective, bone and adipose tissue, add dyes and preservatives. Compliance with safety standards, the correct indication of the ingredients used in the labeling are the only requirements for the product,” said Elena Saratseva, Deputy HEAD of Roskachestvo.

Since the consumer does not always understand the difference between a semi-finished product and a culinary product (a semi-finished product requires complete heat treatment, the culinary product only needs to be warmed up) and prefers the fastest cooking method, Roskachestvo has established advanced requirements for culinary products.

E. coli and listeria in nuggets

According to the results of the study, no heavy metals and toxic elements were found in all chicken nuggets in quantities hazardous to HEALTH. However, nuggets cannot be fully called a safe product and eaten without high-temperature processing, since violations of microbiological indicators were found in the products of some brands.

A slight excess of QMAFAnM bacteria was found in two culinary products (Metro Chef and Perfetto) and two semi-finished products (VkusVill and Myasnitsky Ryad). E. coli was found in another culinary product "Golden Cockerel".

In the semi-finished products of VkusVill and Myasnitsky Ryad, Listeria, bacteria that can multiply in food products, has been identified.

Listeria gets into food when the hygiene of food production and storage is not observed. Bacteria die during prolonged heat treatment at 100 ° C for 35-40 minutes.

Also in the semi-finished products of three other brands, bacteria of Staphylococcus aureus were found. This type of pathogenic bacteria is regulated only in culinary products, but Roskachestvo found out whether Staphylococcus aureus is contained in other products.

Roskachestvo reminds that the growth of microorganisms is not always the fault of the manufacturer. Failure to comply with the conditions of storage and sale can also lead to the development of undesirable microflora.

Slight excess of antibiotics

Most of the studied nuggets met the safety criteria for the content of antibiotics. Only in the production of "Okraina" (semi-finished products) a slight excess of the content of the tetracycline group of antibiotics was revealed, which is not allowed by the technical regulations and is a violation.

In order to find out if the butter was used fresh in the nuggets or not, the "acid value of the fat" indicator is included in the lead requirements. The results of the study showed that all chicken nuggets produced as culinary products did not reach the advanced standard of Roskachestvo. This may indicate the initial stage of oxidative deterioration of the nuggets, or the low quality of the oil used in frying. Excesses in this indicator were also found in semi-finished products, but they are not normalized by the advanced standard. This fact cannot be considered as inconsistency.

How much meat and breading

Since today the legislation does not regulate the content of meat in chicken nuggets, Roskachestvo developed advanced requirements, according to which in high-quality nuggets (culinary products) the meat part should be at least 65%, and breading - no more than 35%.
The culinary products Zolotoy Petushok, Lenta, Market Perekrestok, Metro Chef and Perfertto meet the advanced requirements for meat content. Among semi-finished nuggets, VkusVill, Morozko, Myasnitsky Ryad, Myasnov, Okraina, Chiki Toys, Chikon and Nasesto reached the leading standard in terms of meat content.

The composition of nuggets on the packaging is not always true. Some manufacturers did not list deboned meat, poultry skin and soy proteins in the composition, thereby misleading the buyer. At the same time, all the studied products did not contain benzoic and sorbic acids, synthetic dyes and GMOs, as stated on the packaging.