Job Discussion Forums

maruss · Joined: 18 Mar 2003 Posts: 1145 Location: Cyprus

Russian people who come not only from Moscow,but also other cities who come here for holidays have told me recently that the cost of food in Russia is becoming very high everywhere and that life there is very difficult for the vast majority who do not earn high wages.As you rightly pointed out,much of the food is imported rather than locally produced and because it has to be transported over long distances it needs various additatives to preserve it!If you are fussy about what you eat,finding good quality food is expensive and needs time to seek out shops in Moscow which specialise in various products.No wonder Russians who have dachas and vegetable plots etc. like to grow their own food and preserve it for the winter......I used to think this was mainly to save money but it is also because people are aware of the need to know what they are eating and they are surprisingly well-informed about environmental and ecological issues!Pollution in Moscow and many other Russian cities is notorious and keeping a strong immune system to maintain health is essential,but from the gist of your query I'm sure you are already well aware of these issues?Standards of health in Russia are generally poor,for various reasons which are not only due to dietary habits....
It is lamentable that in the 21st Century,despite all our technological progress etc. so many people on the planet do not have access to healthy food and even safe drinking water !Deliberately choosing to eat 'junk-food' is perhaps a cardinal sin,rather like smoking tobacco?
But that's another debate!