Russia’s consumer protection watchdog has vowed to investigate chocolate products after social media users demonstrated its flammability online.
Videos posted by Russian video bloggers show various brands of store-bought chocolate bars igniting after being exposed to flames. Some bloggers investigated the differences in flammability between Swiss and Russian chocolate, while others pointed out that chocolate's main ingredients — cocoa butter and cocoa powder — are naturally combustible.
Following a public outcry, Russia’s consumer protection watchdog Rospotrebnadzor said in an online statement Thursday that it had ordered for the chocolate brands mentioned in the widely circulated videos to undergo lab tests.
“Rospotrebnadzor notes that burning food is a natural physical and chemical process, whose intensity is related to the product’s composition,” it said.
The watchdog called on consumers to not trust “random sources of information” and to report food of doubtful quality to its offices across the country.
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.
Remind me later.
