Russian court shuts down spirulina producer over food safety violations

A district court in Ekaterinburg has ordered the temporary closure of Ritmiko LLC, a local producer of spirulina-based supplements. The 30-day suspension comes after regulators uncovered serious breaches of food safety rules at the company’s facility. Inspectors found multiple violations during an unannounced visit last month.

The investigation began when Rospotrebnadzor, Russia’s consumer watchdog, carried out an unscheduled check at Ritmiko’s premises on ul. 8 Marta. Officials discovered that the company was handling, packaging, and storing food products in the same room—a clear violation of sanitary standards. Some items in the production area also lacked proper labels, while raw materials were missing required documentation.

Ritmiko, which specialises in growing spirulina algae and manufacturing dietary supplements, has operated in Yekaterinburg for years. The firm previously gained attention in 2014 when it presented its technology at Innoprom, a major industrial trade fair. Following the inspection, Rospotrebnadzor filed an administrative report and pushed for legal action. The court in Verkh-Isetsky District ultimately ruled in favour of a month-long shutdown, halting all operations at the facility.

The suspension will remain in effect for 30 days, forcing Ritmiko to halt production and sales. Authorities have not yet announced whether further penalties or corrective measures will follow. The company must now address the violations before resuming work.