Russian spirulina producer halted over shocking hygiene violations

A food production company in Yekaterinburg has been temporarily shut down after regulators uncovered serious hygiene breaches. Ritmiko LLC, known for its spirulina-based supplements, faced a 30-day suspension following an unannounced inspection by Rospotrebnadzor. The court ruling marks the latest setback for the firm, which had previously drawn attention from authorities years earlier.

The Verkh-Isetsky District Court in Yekaterinburg ordered the suspension after Rospotrebnadzor inspectors documented multiple violations. They found food preparation, storage, and packaging all happening in the same room. Raw materials lacked proper documentation, and unlabelled products were scattered across the production area. These breaches of sanitary and epidemiological rules prompted officials to file an administrative report under Article 6.6 of Russia’s Code of Administrative Offenses.

The company had been under scrutiny before. In 2014, Ritmiko presented its spirulina-growing technology at the Innoprom industrial trade fair. However, the Federal Security Service (FSB) later monitored its activities. That oversight came well ahead of the recent court-ordered shutdown. Ritmiko specialises in cultivating spirulina algae, turning it into supplements sold as powder, tablets, pasta, and sweets. Despite its niche market, the firm now faces a month-long halt in operations while regulators demand compliance with health standards.

The 30-day suspension forces Ritmiko to address the identified issues before resuming production. Inspectors will likely revisit the facility to verify corrections. Until then, the company’s range of spirulina products remains off the market.