Russian Chocolate Prohibited in Belarus Once More

In a recent development, the Belarus State Standardization Body has identified a product that does not meet technical regulations for bitter chocolate. The product in question is the bitter chocolate Bucherön The Original with cranberry pieces, manufactured by LLC "Sobranie" in Russia.

According to reports, the production of this product does not adhere to certain identification requirements for bitter chocolate. The mass fraction of fat (cocoa butter) in the chocolate is 31%, which is lower than the required norm of "33% or more cocoa butter content."

Furthermore, unlisted producers in the labeling equivalents of cocoa butter were used during the production of the product, with a mass fraction of 4.25%. This may have contributed to the product not meeting the required identification standards for bitter chocolate.

As a result, the chocolate has been added to the registry of dangerous products. Experts have determined that the product cannot be identified as bitter chocolate despite having the appearance and some properties of it.

The company responsible for manufacturing the product, LLC "Sobranie," is based in Russia, specifically in the Yaroslavl region, in the village of Varegovo. The documents on conformity assessment for the product have been suspended, and a ban on the sale, import, and circulation of the chocolate has been introduced due to its failure to meet the required technical regulations.

It is important to note that this is not the first time a product from LLC "Sobranie" has been in question. The person responsible for the production of another bitter chocolate product, Bucherön The Original with lemon-colored plums, which also does not meet technical regulations, has been identified by Belarus' state standardization authority, but the specific name of the product has not been publicly provided.

This incident emphasises the importance of adhering to technical regulations in the production of food products. Consumers are advised to exercise caution when purchasing chocolate products and to check for compliance with the established norms.