A Russian subsidiary of U.S. fast-food chain Burger King has been fined $2,600 after health inspectors discovered food safety violations at a branch in Moscow.
The Moscow Arbitration Court imposed the 100,000-ruble ($2,600) fine after nonfood items — a milk-shake machine and onion and tomato slicers — were stored next to refrigerated food products at a Burger King on Prospekt Mira, state-run RIA Novosti news agency reported Wednesday.
Inspectors also found flies buzzing around "production and storage facilitIes" at the restaurant, the report said.
The fine was levied by the court at the request of Russia's food safety watchdog, Rospotrebnadzor, which said the sanitary violations posed a risk to human life.
The fine comes just weeks after Rospotrebnadzor shut down several McDonald's branches in Moscow over food safety violations.
Burger Rus, the Russian subsidiary of Burger King, has 10 days to lodge an appeal against the fine.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.