Imported dairy products fail inspections in Armenia

PanARMENIAN.Net - Inspectors from the Food Safety Inspection Body (FSIB) of Armenia’s central Yerevan division, following a request from the Safe Food website, conducted control purchases to examine imported dairy products from the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and third countries available on the Armenian market. The products underwent microbiological testing and milk fat content analysis.

At the Kaiser supermarket (operated by Par-Art LLC) at 23/6 Margaryan Street, the following products were sampled:

• Brest-Litovsk sour cream (Belarus)
• Fruttis peach yogurt (Russia)
• Nezhny strawberry yogurt (Russia)
• Cheese Life Mozzarella semi-hard product (Ukraine)
• Danone strawberry yogurt (Kazakhstan)
• Agusha baby curd (Russia)
• President sour cream (20% and 30% fat, Russia)

Laboratory results showed that Brest-Litovsk, Fruttis, Nezhny, and Cheese Life products did not meet the Customs Union’s technical standards for milk fat content.

Further control purchases were made at the Yerevan City supermarket at 5 Mashtots Avenue (operated by City LLC), where the following items were tested:

• “Vershkoviy Ray” brand “Gollandets” protein-fat product (Ukraine)
• Parmalat natural lactose-free yogurt (Russia)
• Anchor sweet cream butter (New Zealand)
• Doyarushka cream butter (Russia)

According to the lab report, the “Gollandets” product from the “Vershkoviy Ray” brand was non-compliant not only in milk fat content but also contained coliform bacteria.

All tests were conducted by the FSIB’s Republican Veterinary-Sanitary and Phytosanitary Laboratory Services Center.

Based on traceability, the FSIB is now conducting inspections at the import companies L.D.L., Lia-K Group, Adamium, and Mega Food. Results will be published upon completion.