Don't screw around: Russia wants to introduce GOST for rolls and sushi
Against the background of the increasing number of mass poisonings in Russia, it is planned to introduce a GOST for rolls and sushi. State Duma deputies have approached Rosstandart with such a proposal. The aim is to improve the quality and safety of these products. Business representatives reacted to the initiative in different ways. Some are ready to support the development and want to take part in it themselves. Others do not see the expediency of it, as in GOST it is impossible to prescribe all types of sushi and rolls.
GOST for sushi and rolls
In Russia they propose to introduce GOST for rolls and sushi to improve the quality and safety of these products. With such a proposal to the head of Rosstandart Anton Shalaev addressed the head of the State Duma Committee on Regional Policy Alexei Didenko. In the document, which Izvestiya has, he points out that in recent years sushi and rolls have become an integral part of the Russian catering market.
"They are very popular among citizens, which is confirmed by the significant number of enterprises specializing in Japanese cuisine. However, along with the growing demand, cases of citizens' appeals related to violations of the quality and safety of such products have become more frequent," the deputy notes in his appeal.
According to him, the facts of mass poisonings caused by non-compliance with sanitary norms, use of low-quality ingredients and lack of proper control over the cooking process are of particular concern. This problem is especially acute due to the fact that the products used for sushi and rolls (e.g. fish, seafood, eggs) are often not subjected to heat treatment, which increases the risk to the health of consumers, adds the parliamentarian.
Today, the requirements for the preparation of Japanese cuisine are regulated by the requirements and norms for public cateringin general, such as GOST 31984-2012 "Public catering services. General requirements." There is no specialized national standard that takes into account the peculiarities of cooking sushi and rolls. In this regard, Alexey Didenko asks to consider the issue of development and introduction of GOST, establishing specific requirements for quality, cooking technology and sanitary norms for sushi and rolls.
- Recently, poisonings with these products have become more frequent in Russia. For example, in 2024 in Novosibirsk 37 people suffered after ordering rolls in a delivery service, the cause was unsanitary conditions, in St. Petersburg a large restaurant chain was fined for having employees with salmonellosis, and in Chelyabinsk one of the sushi delivery restaurants was closed after mass infection of citizens with the same infection. In Buryatia and other regions, such incidents have become regular. And these are just a few examples," the deputy explained to Izvestia the reason for the appeal to Rosstandart.
In his opinion, the introduction of GOST will help to create uniform requirements for ingredients, cooking technologies and storage conditions, which will minimize health risks for consumers. For example, fish used for making sushi should be not only fresh, but also properly treated to exclude the possibility of parasitic diseases, emphasized Alexei Didenko. He noted that the task is not to complicate the work of restaurateurs, but to ensure transparency and high quality standards.
"Izvestia" sent a request to Rosstandart with a request to comment on the prospects of supporting the initiative.
As "Izvestia" wrote, after frequent poisonings with shawarma in Russia, the State Duma proposed to introduce GOST for this dish. It is already being developed by Roskachestvo. The head of the organization Maxim Protasov earlier reported that the standard will be finally approved and will come into force in 2025.
Requirements for sushi and rolls
Business representatives reacted to the initiative in different ways. Some are ready to support the development, but want to take part in it themselves. Others do not see in it the expediency, since in GOST it is impossible to prescribe all types of sushi and rolls.
- "Yakitoria" welcomes any measures aimed at improving the quality and safety of cooking Japanese cuisine. Every year new players appear, many of which are unable to maintain high quality standards. And any failure undermines confidence in the segment as a whole. The reputation of big brands suffers first of all, even when this failure does not apply to them," Alexander Muratov, director of development of a franchise restaurant chain, explained to Izvestia.
According to him, each restaurant of the franchisee-network implements a program of production control, including the organization of laboratory research and testing of dishes, including microbiological indicators.
- As for the GOST for the preparation of sushi and rolls, I would like to first familiarize myself with its provisions, if such a standard is developed. It is important that the requirements contained in it were aimed at improving the quality and safety of products, and not just give an opportunity to increase their reputation to those who do not have it very high. Therefore, in our opinion, it is necessary to invite major brands to participate in the discussion of the initiative," says the business representative.
The press service of the restaurants "Tanuki" noted that in their work they are guided by and strictly comply with the sanitary requirements of SP 2.3.6.1079-01 "Sanitary and epidemiological requirements for public catering organizations, manufacturing and turnover of food products and food raw materials in them".
In addition, the company added that sushi and rolls must meet the requirements of the Customs Union technical regulations: "Food products in terms of labeling", "On the safety of fish and fish products", "Safety requirements for food additives, flavorings and technological aids" and others.
- We think that the development of a new standard implies the unification of the above standards into a common GOST and does not directly affect the author's formulations. In this case, of course, we will support such regulations on safety and technological processes, - explained to "Izvestia" in "Tanuki".
Albert Khamzin, franchising director of Sushi Market, told Izvestia that he is ready to take part in the discussion of the initiative.
- This proposal can be supported. Surely it will take into account all the common sense of the current requirements to the quality of dishes, including sanitary norms. I do not think that we will be banned something, beat on the hands, experiment with the composition and names. Although it seems to me that nothing new can be invented here, but we want to get rid of negative feedback, and if people see that it is controlled by the state, there is GOST, then there will be fewer complaints," he explained to Izvestia.
Thepreferences and tastes of customers change so quickly, so GOST can quickly lose relevance due to the fact that the recipes will be quickly updated, noted in the press service of the ready meal delivery service Dostaevsky.
- Most likely, GOST will apply to those positions that are familiar to the consumer. We as a business will adapt and obey the innovations, but we do not see the expediency and value for the client in this,- added the representatives of the service.
The company believes that it is impossible to fit all types of rolls under GOST, as they are mainly made according to the author's recipe. And the basic dishes, which can be covered by the standard, are also constantly changing.
Oleg Pavlov, head of the Public Consumer Initiative, also considers the new standard to be redundant. According to him, all necessary requirements for public catering have already been adopted and are contained in the law on consumer protection, technical regulations, sanitary norms and rules. If they are strictly observed, no new GOSTs are required, especially given their non-mandatory nature, the expert explained.
He believes that in order to improve the quality of catering dishes, it is necessary to lift the moratorium on business inspections. This would be a more effective measure than the new requirements, the expert believes.
