Support The Moscow Times!

Russian Lawmaker Asks Watchdog to Inspect KFC, Burger King

KFC and Burger King have extensive networks in Russia, and Russians must be informed about the quality of the food they are buying there, said Roman Khudyakov.

Russia's apparent assault on U.S. fast-food restaurants may be about to go from sour to septic.

With McDonald's already under the microscope from food hygiene inspectors, a lawmaker has asked Russia's consumer rights watchdog to open an investigation into the products sold by KFC and Burger King, the Izvestia newspaper reported Wednesday.

KFC and Burger King have extensive networks in Russia, and Russians must be informed about the quality of the food they are buying there, said Roman Khudyakov, the State Duma deputy from the Liberal Democratic Party who made the request.

"The watchdog has already detected problems with a number of products from McDonald's that can harm people's health. In light of that, I have asked the Federal Consumer Protection Service to organize an unplanned inspection of other large fast-food restaurants in Russia," he said.

KFC spokespeople were unavailable for comment when contacted by Izvestia, while Burger King declined to comment on the report.

The watchdog has yet to confirm whether it will take up Khudyakov's request, but considering the scrutiny that McDonald's has come under, it won't come as a surprise if it does.

Last week, the watchdog accused McDonald's of misleading customers about the energy values of some of its burgers and said that it had detected coliform bacteria in McDonald's Caesar wraps and a vegetable salad. On Monday, a second Russian watchdog opened an investigation into the cheese used by the restaurant chain.

See also:

Russian Watchdog Opens Investigation Into McDonald's Cheese

U.S. Fast Food Chain Wendy's Leaving Russia

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysiss and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy

A Message from The Moscow Times:

Dear readers,

We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."

These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.

By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.

Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more