Russia destroys produce to reinforce Western food ban

The Russian government steamrolled tonnes of contraband cheese and destroyed fruit with tractors in a public display of its commitment to its one-year-old ban on Western foods.

The move, however, has raised protests in Russia, with people signing a petition urging the government to instead donate the food to the poor suffering through the country’s vicious recession.‘

Coupled with the ruble’s sharp depreciation, the ban on Western food has helped drive consumer prices up, pushing an increasing number of Russians below the poverty line.