Feathers fly in U.S. - Russia chicken war

Monday, December 6, 2010

Wildly popular in Russia during the 1990s, when 250,000 tonnes were imported annually, American chicken legs can't get a claw hold in urban Russian any more, according to the Washington Post, and are only eaten by poorer people in rural areas, school children and in some fast food restaurants.

A media campaign raised the spectre of antibiotics, hormones and consumer complaints about the water content. For the first nine months of this year, American chicken couldn't even get into the country because Russia banned the chlorine disinfectant American processors use. Even Rustik's-KFC, a 161-store chain bought out by Yum Brands Inc., of Louisville, Ky., claims to use only Russian chicken, according to The Post.

However, American chicken is back (still only the cheaper legs, not in wide demand by Americans who want breast meat) but only because Russia desperately wants to become part of the World Trade Organization. A new antibiotic wash is used on the birds.

Politics may also be a factor in efforts to keep the American meat out. Sergei Lisovsky, a former night club owner and a member of the upper house of the Russian Parliament,  also founded one of the country's largest bird raising companies. He claims American chicken legs are "dumped" in Russia at below cost and says the chicken produced in modern Russian facilities is safer.

That claim is dubious. A consumer rights group survey found eight of 10 samples of Russian chicken tested in June contained salmonella. BF