Mass of germs: investigation reveals dangers of ready-to-eat food services

Even comparative statistics should not in any case be a reason for complacency. Any mistake, even the most trivial at first glance, can always lead to tragedy. And not only in aviation. We are often and rightly proud of our leadership in certain areas. For example, in the digitalization of the life of an ordinary person. Perhaps, no other country in the world has such a number of online services, ranging from relations with the state to the notorious food delivery. Moreover, this segment continues to actively develop. The revenue of companies operating in it is growing several times. But sometimes these incomes are very dirty. Literally and figuratively. Correspondent “Izvestia” Alexey Tselischev conducted an investigation and found out why it is sometimes better to cook for yourself and who really lives in a beautiful package with ready-made food.

E. coli found in food

The top managers of the model enterprise for the production of ready-made food are not happy that they invited us to their workshop. While the executive director was talking about the sterility of production.

“We have special balaclavas, armbands, and gloves.”– said the executive director of the prepared food production David Mikhailyan.

Those who did not comply with sanitary standards were hiding from us behind the shelves. Many people work here without gloves. And this is a direct threat to the health of those who are ordering food through websites and mobile applications right now.

“That’s out of the question.”– Mikhailyan noted.

“Alexey, Alexey. Our interview is turning into some kind of… I didn’t agree to this. This is already turning into some kind of investigation.”– the employee is frightened.

More precisely, part of a larger investigation”News“. We decided to check: how safe is it to order food. The result shocked not only us, but also the employees of the leading Russian laboratory.

There is a line of couriers outside the National Centre for the Safety of Aquatic Products and Aquaculture. We ordered ready-made food from eight major online services to their address.

“Level Kitchen”, “Grow Food”, “Vkusvill”, “Perekrestok”, “Yandex. Lavka”, “Samokat”, “Shokoladnitsa” and “Tanuki”. The total income of these companies last year was almost 500 billion rubles. The National Union for the Protection of Consumer Rights helped us create the menu for the study. The list included popular vegetable salads and Olivier. Meat dishes with side dishes and rolls. There were 16 dishes. Two from each service.

Samples of finished products are in the laboratory. The specialists made an exception for our film crew and agreed to tell and show in detail how the analysis of microbiological indicators is carried out. To do this, you need to change clothes. Change your jacket for a robe. The cameraman has already done this. All equipment has already been processed, hands have been processed. We enter the so-called “infectious zone”. This is where the research is carried out.

Head of the Microbiological Research Department Elena Guseva checks ready-made food for dangerous microorganisms, including staphylococcus, salmonella, and E. coli. The first results are alarming.

“Bacteria of the coli group were detected, and an excess of the total content of microorganisms was also found.“, – noted Guseva.

The kitchens where the food is prepared look good. Perfectly clean. The freshest vegetables.

It was only in the Philadelphia kitchen that microbiologists discovered E. coli.

“Among this large number of microorganisms, pathogens may be found“, Guseva emphasized.

The largest food delivery services turned out to be dangerous

In our study, dangerous microorganisms were found in 12 out of 16 dishes. That is, more than 60 percent of what we ordered on online platforms should not have reached the consumer. The list of those that did not pass the test included six out of eight services.

“E. coli actually gets into the product as a result of carelessness and failure to comply with simple sanitary and hygienic requirements.“, noted biotechnologist Dmitry Veremyev.

We decided to check how hygiene is observed at one of the enterprises in our anti-rating. We get a job. After a short interview, the employer sends us to get a medical book at a clinic he knows.

A complete list of doctors you need to see before becoming a food service worker. Tests you need to take. And also vaccinations against diphtheria, measles, dysentery and hepatitis A.

At the clinic, the list is seriously shortened. The medic takes blood. Vaccinations are not at all mandatory.

This is enough to get into the enterprise. In the workshop where food is prepared, everything seems to be clean. A device for sanitizing clothes. They give out disposable aprons and gloves. Masks and special caps.

But no one guarantees that a person, after entering production, will not wash his hands after using a mobile phone.

And the employees use them all the time. I am, however, forbidden to take out my phone. Apparently, so that they would not be able to, for example, film how rotten vegetables easily pass the inspection of experienced professionals and go straight to the kitchen. There are their own rules there. A cold workshop. Cooks without gloves, although this is a direct violation of SanPiN. The pickers also neglect gloves, putting ready-made food into trays with their bare hands before sending it to customers.

But spoiled food and dirty hands are the main reasons for the spread of E. coli. That’s why we are sending the results of the investigation “News” to restaurants and delivery services. Tanuki doubted the purity of our experiment, but organized their own check. VkusVill promised to conduct additional laboratory tests. Level Kitchen and Shokoladnitsa suggested that the microbes got into the dishes during delivery or after opening the package. Yandex. Lavka also has doubts.

“We don’t know what environment the food was in after delivery.“, the statement said.

“If mass poisoning occurs, all claims are made against the seller, regardless of whether he purchased the product from third parties or not.“, – emphasized lawyer Alla Georgieva.

The largest producers of ready-made food should have paid special attention to the quality of their products after a massive outbreak of botulism. The first in 30 years in Russia. As a result of the poisoning, 400 people suffered. Two died.

But the investigation “News” says that the tragedy has taught nothing to the players of the rapidly developing ready-to-eat market. Even despite the serious fines. The results of our research – we contacted Rospotrebnadzor. Now its employees must conduct their own inspection.