Several brands of dairy products in Armenia do not meet food safety standards
13.02.2019,
16:31
Several brands of dairy products, particularly, sour cream and so-called sour cream products, produced in Armenia, do not meet food safety standards, Ruben Haytyan from the National Consumer Association, told a news conference today.
YEREVAN, February 13. /ARKA/. Several brands of dairy products, particularly, sour cream and so-called sour cream products, produced in Armenia, do not meet food safety standards, Ruben Haytyan from the National Consumer Association, told a news conference today.
He said the liberalization of production standards has prompted increasing violations of labeling requirements for sour cream and sour cream products, as well as dairy factories’ failure to comply with food safety standards, which may adversely affect the health of customers.
He said use of cheap vegetable and especially coconut oil without proper designation of its origin and the importing country in sour cream products have become more frequent. According to Haytyan, the second most important problem is that dairy factories fail to indicate the use of milk powder for the production of products, which could also affect the health of customers.
"Of course, milk powder is safe if a person does not have allergic reactions to it. In some cases, it is more beneficial than natural milk, if you consider the threat of brucellosis or other diseases. However, it is necessary to indicate on the label the importing country, which local producers ignore," he said.
According to Haytyan, many local manufacturers import milk powder from Ukraine, which causes some concern.
"Powdered milk from Ukraine is definitely a fairly cheap product, but in many countries its use is prohibited due to the place of production and environment, associated with the consequences of the Chernobyl accident. Thus, the use of Ukrainian dried milk in the production of sour cream products can become a serious public health issue for Armenian consumers," he noted.
He also called inadmissible the labeling of the composition of the product in small, non-readable typeface, as well as the provision of incomplete information on the composition, date of production of the product and shelf life.
"Unfortunately, over the past year, such cases have become more frequent, which requires the immediate intervention of relevant government agencies," he noted.
Haytyan, however, stressed that there are that bona fide producers of sour cream and sour cream products, who observe all the standards and requirements. -0-
He said the liberalization of production standards has prompted increasing violations of labeling requirements for sour cream and sour cream products, as well as dairy factories’ failure to comply with food safety standards, which may adversely affect the health of customers.
He said use of cheap vegetable and especially coconut oil without proper designation of its origin and the importing country in sour cream products have become more frequent. According to Haytyan, the second most important problem is that dairy factories fail to indicate the use of milk powder for the production of products, which could also affect the health of customers.
"Of course, milk powder is safe if a person does not have allergic reactions to it. In some cases, it is more beneficial than natural milk, if you consider the threat of brucellosis or other diseases. However, it is necessary to indicate on the label the importing country, which local producers ignore," he said.
According to Haytyan, many local manufacturers import milk powder from Ukraine, which causes some concern.
"Powdered milk from Ukraine is definitely a fairly cheap product, but in many countries its use is prohibited due to the place of production and environment, associated with the consequences of the Chernobyl accident. Thus, the use of Ukrainian dried milk in the production of sour cream products can become a serious public health issue for Armenian consumers," he noted.
He also called inadmissible the labeling of the composition of the product in small, non-readable typeface, as well as the provision of incomplete information on the composition, date of production of the product and shelf life.
"Unfortunately, over the past year, such cases have become more frequent, which requires the immediate intervention of relevant government agencies," he noted.
Haytyan, however, stressed that there are that bona fide producers of sour cream and sour cream products, who observe all the standards and requirements. -0-
