Toxic deliberations reveal hazardous alcohol available in Belarusian retail outlets

In a series of recent developments, several mead products have been banned from Belarusian stores due to non-compliance with technical regulations and the presence of prohibited additives.

The ban affects products from two manufacturers: LLC "Medovarnya traditsii predkov" and LLC "Zaliv.Com".

LLC "Medovarnya traditsii predkov", based in Russia, has had multiple instances of non-compliance. The state standard banned the sale of their "Pineapple-Mango" flavored mead called "Hel Hel" and "Elderberry" mead "Ettun's Blood" in June, due to the presence of prohibited preservatives. Additionally, the sale of their "Fiery Giant Surtr" sea buckthorn mead has been withdrawn from Belarusian stores due to the presence of sulfur dioxide, a prohibited additive in the production of such drinks.

Similarly, LLC "Zaliv.Com" has also been found to be non-compliant. Their "Mr. X Strawberry&Barberry" and "Mr. X Cherry&Lemon" meads contain unacceptable food additives, specifically sulfuric acid (sulfur dioxide). The "Mr. X Strawberry&Barberry" mead contains 56 mg/dm3 of sulfuric acid, while the exact indicator for the "Mr. X Cherry&Lemon" mead is not specified.

The presence of sulfur dioxide in these products can cause allergic reactions and is contraindicated for certain diseases. The manufacturer, LLC "Zaliv.Com", incorrectly indicated the GOST according to which the "Mr. X" meads were manufactured.

The ban on these alcohol products is linked to EU sanctions against Belarus, which include import restrictions and added tariffs on certain goods from Belarus due to the country's political situation and actions aligned with Russia, especially after the Russian military invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

In May, mead "Volkovskoye Brewery 'Unusual Honey'" was also banned due to sulfur dioxide, produced by ZAO "Moskovskaya Pivovarennaya Kompaniya" from the Moscow region. In February, several products of the Orenburg company "Steppe and Wind" were included in the list of unsafe products due to the presence of sorbic acid (E200) and its salt.

These incidents highlight the importance of adhering to technical regulations and using acceptable food additives in the production of consumer goods. Consumers are advised to be vigilant and check the quality of the products they purchase.

Toxic deliberations reveal hazardous alcohol available in Belarusian retail outlets