Published
06/11/2025, 07:46Today, excluding small businesses, there are 30 dairy processing companies in the Kyrgyz market supplying products to the country's largest retail chains. However, a study of the range of products available, using butter as an example, found that not all butter is equally natural.
According to data from the Kyrgyz Dairy Association, of the 18 brands of butter on the market, eight are domestic, and only two of them use milk fat substitutes (MFS). This means that 75% of local products are genuine dairy products.
The situation is different with imports. Of the 10 foreign producers, 7 add MFR. Thus, 70% of imported butter is not real butter, but a product with substitutes.
It should be noted that the use of MFR is not prohibited, but such products must be clearly labeled so that consumers have complete information about the composition. In accordance with the Customs Union's technical regulations on the safety of milk and dairy products, there are two definitions that classify dairy products as “dairy products” and “milk-containing products.” The latter refers to products containing milk fat substitutes.
