The key facts
- Violations were found in canned mackerel from 15 brands; all samples are safe in terms of microbiology and toxic elements
- In four brands, the share of fish in the can is below the required 50%; in two, the mackerel species was substituted
- Products from 12 brands meet advanced requirements and may qualify for the Russian Quality Mark
What the mackerel inspection revealed
Roskachestvo studied canned mackerel from 37 Russian brands, checking the composition, labeling, and whether the contents of the cans matched the declared characteristics. Violations of mandatory requirements were found in products from 15 brands, while all tested samples were deemed safe for health, reports Life.ru citing RIA Novosti.
What violations were found
Canned products from the brands Vkusnye Konservy, Kazhdy Den, Lyudi Lyubyat, Moreslav, Morskoe Sodruzhestvo, Morskie Traditsii, Morskoy Kotik, Onezhskie Delikatesy, Poseidon, Khozyain Baltiki, Fishmar, Aro, Globus, Gold Fish, and ZR received criticism. One of the main problems is a shortage of fish: under the requirements, its share in the can must be at least 50%, but Kazhdy Den, Poseidon, Khozyain Baltiki, and Aro failed to meet this indicator, and in four more brands the actual fish content differed from what was stated on the label. In canned products from Morskie Traditsii and Morskoe Sodruzhestvo, a substitution of the mackerel species was detected; the packaging of Onezhskie Delikatesy lacked the zoological name of the fish, and the protein and fat content did not match the labeling. In six brands, the amount of salt exceeded the requirements of GOST.
Safety and quality products
Despite the shortcomings, none of the samples showed violations in microbiological indicators, or in the content of toxic elements and histamine; no problems with commercial sterility were found either. Products from 12 brands met all mandatory and advanced requirements — Azbuka Morya, Bars, Vladkon, Glavprodukt, Dobroflot, Moreprodukt, Rybnoe Menyu, Sovok, Sokhranim Traditsii, Spetszakaz, Ultramarin, and Fish House: these canned products can qualify for the Russian Quality Mark.
What has already changed
Information about the violations was sent to manufacturers, retail chains, and regulatory authorities. After receiving the study results, the Globus chain removed Globus and Morskoy Kotik canned products from sale, and some manufacturers began internal checks. Thus, some of the findings have already led to concrete action by retailers rather than remaining just a report from the oversight agency.
