Minsk's food safety crisis exposed as 14% of samples fail inspections

Food safety inspections in Minsk have revealed widespread quality issues in the first half of 2025. Over 1,600 samples were tested by the Minsk City Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology, with 14% failing to meet required standards. The findings follow more than 180 public complaints about expired products on sale.

Regulators examined nearly 800 retail outlets, excluding food service venues. Violations were found in over 70% of the inspected locations. Common problems included poor sanitary conditions in storage areas, dirty equipment, and unclean utensils.

Other frequent breaches involved incomplete or missing food labels, attempts to sell expired goods, and staff failing to follow hygiene rules. Many employees had not undergone mandatory medical checks or training. The non-compliant items ranged from factory-made and imported goods to locally produced products. Multi-ingredient salads, sushi, and other manually prepared foods were among those that failed testing. All unsafe or substandard products were immediately removed from shelves and destroyed.

The inspections come after 180 complaints from residents about expired food between January and July 2025. Authorities have stressed the need for stricter compliance with hygiene and labelling rules. Further checks are expected to address ongoing concerns about food safety in the city.