A Russian official has blasted a ban on serving pelmeni — meat-filled Russian dumplings — to schoolchildren.
In a meeting of local bureaucrats, Moscow region Governor Andrei Vorobyov demanded answers as to why school catering rules outlawed the doughy dish, a mainstay of Russia’s national cuisine.
“If the children want pelmeni, give them pelmeni. What’s the problem?” he said, according to a recording of the regional government meeting published on social media.
Vorobyov was far from won over when told Rospotrebnadzor, Russia’s consumer health watchdog, had deemed the dumplings a “high-risk product” due to the presence of minced meat.
Pelmeni are usually made with a mix of ground beef, mutton and pork.
“No, no. Pelmeni is different,” he responded.
“There isn’t one person in this room, or who is listening to us, that wouldn’t eat pelmeni or that thinks eating pelmeni is dangerous. Any food can be dangerous.”
The governor went on to reminisce about eating pelmeni in his school days — a delicacy he said he does not want today’s schoolchildren to forgo.
“In our days, one of the most truly delicious dishes they served at school was pelmeni. We didn’t have burgers and fries back then.”
Vorobyov instructed the officials to find a solution to the problem, adding that he could give approval to a specially designated “high-quality company” that would be certified to produce low-risk pelmeni for schools.
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.
