Will antibiotics in Belarus-made milk cause allergies?
Russia’s Federal Veterinary Authority has banned the import of dairy products from four Belarusian enterprises: in Maladzechna, Chavusy, Pruzhany and a poultry factory in Kobryn.
The Russian controllers maintain they have detected antibiotics in Belarus-made products. They reckon that antibiotics entered the products from the animals that had been treated with antibiotics.
Alexei Alexeyenko, the chief public information officer at the Russian Federal Veterinary Authority, has explained the danger of these products for Russian consumers. He said:
“There are two major dangers. Firstly, antibiotics can cause allergies on some people. Secondly, when using these products, people can get used to antibiotics. So, when he or she is going to be treated with antibiotics, the medication will not be efficient”.
Logically, the measure could be aimed at pushing competitors from the Russian market. But Russia’s veterinary official maintain that it is a usual procedure to restrict imports to their country. If our producers increase the quality of their products, the restrictions will be lifted.
“Last week, we introduced restrictions on the supplies from three American enterprises, one French and one Belgian. This is life”, continues Alexeyenko. “At the same time, we lifted the restrictions that had been introduced earlier. As for the Belarusian enterprises, I am talking about the meat factories from Homel, Zhlobin and Belaya Vezha”.
Uladzimir Mikitsich, the director of the dairy factory in Puzhany, is desperate, as nearly all of their products were exported to Moscow and Ekaterinburg.
“Our major market is Russia. In 2006, we received the Best Belarus Exporter award. We used to export up to 80 percent of our products to Russia”, says Mikitsich.
The European Radio for Belarus asked him directly if their products contained antibiotics.
“No”, said Mikitsich. “We have signed a contract with a inter-district laboratory to monitor all our products. The lab in Briansk, Russia said: “We have not found anything in your products”.
ERB: “Why are there restrictions?”
Mikitsich: “There is another thing. Our veterinary service checked the products and concluded that all the defect had been liquidated. Indeed, we don’t know why our products were banned”.
Ivan Sidorov, the director of the laboratory in Briansk, is not so sure about an absolute cleanness of the Belarusian products.
“The tests on antibiotics are made in Moscow. There are sanitary norms and standards that regulate the quantity of microorganisms – microbes, pesticides or antibiotics. When high levels are detected, we get the so called positive reaction. Do you think it is dangerous for humans or not? If it was not dangerous, they would not put restrictions”.
The Russian Veterinary Authority’s order notes that antibiotics and microbes were found in the products from some Belarusian enterprises. So, one cannot say with confidence that the products from all of the five mentioned factories are contaminated.
