One day after the temporary shut down of four McDonald's outlets, Russia on Thursday investigated more restaurants of the fast-food chain over alleged sanitary concerns.

"The reasons for introducing the temporary ban on operations were multiple violations of the requirements of the sanitary legislation," Russia's consumer rights watchdog, Rospotrebnadzor, said on its website.

It said authorities were checking five McDonald's restaurants in Moscow, including three that were suspended Wednesday, and planned to check those in such regions as Tatarstan, Samara and Bashkortostan.

Meanwhile, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Olga Golodets told reporters Thursday that Rospotrebnadzor was not planning a "total inspection" of McDonald's restaurants across the country.

McDonald's corporation operates some 430 outlets in Russia, over 100 of them are in Moscow. More than 85 percent of the semi-products the chain uses are supplied by 160 local producers, according to McDonald's Russian website.

The corporation said it has not yet changed plans of expansion in the country despite recent inspections.

"We are studying the essence of the claims to determine the necessary steps to open the restaurants for the customers as soon as possible," it said.

The move against the fast food company came at the backdrop of Western sanctions on Moscow over the Ukraine crisis and the Kremlin's counter-measures banning the import of food from the West in August. Endi

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)