Russia Claimed Listeria in Kazakhstan's Poultry, Removed Notice

Russia's food safety watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor reported finding listeria bacteria in poultry from Kazakhstan's Makinskaya farm on January 29 but later removed this information from its official website,  reports Orda.kz.

Kazakhstan's Ministry of Agriculture says it has not yet received laboratory confirmation of these findings.

According to Rosselkhoznadzor's initial report, contaminated chilled broiler chicken fillets entered Russia through Altai.

The agency began product recalls and implemented enhanced laboratory monitoring of the poultry farm. Tests conducted at the Altai branch of FGBU "VNIIZH" allegedly confirmed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes.

Listeria causes listeriosis, an infectious disease affecting the nervous system and reproductive organs. The illness is particularly dangerous for pregnant women and newborns, with an incubation period of up to 90 days.

Symptoms include fever, chills, nausea, muscle pain, and, in severe cases, seizures and loss of balance.

Kazakhstan's Ministry of Agriculture clarified that enhanced laboratory monitoring does not prohibit exports to EAEU countries but requires testing of each batch.

However, the Ministry noted it has not yet received official confirmation of the violations from Rosselkhoznadzor.

Currently, the Veterinary Control and Supervision Committee of Kazakhstan's Ministry of Agriculture has not received information with confirming laboratory test results from Rosselkhoznadzor. According to EAEU Regulation No. 94, authorized bodies must inform all interested parties of detected violations within ten working days, the Ministry stated.

In response, the Aqmola regional territorial inspection of KVKN will inspect the facility and conduct additional laboratory tests.

Makinskaya Poultry Farm, operating since 2018, is one of Kazakhstan's largest producers.

In 2023, it increased production to 90,000 tons of poultry meat annually. 

The products are sold in Kazakhstani stores under the "Kus Vkus" brand. The company says all production facilities undergo regular inspections by technologists and Halal certification specialists.

Original Author: Alina Pak