Russia MP Wants Shawarma to be Served at the Duma

A man slices cuts of shawarma inside a restaurant cafe in Frankfurt, Germany, Thursday, November 30, 2017 (AP Photo/Michael Probst)
A man slices cuts of shawarma inside a restaurant cafe in Frankfurt, Germany, Thursday, November 30, 2017 (AP Photo/Michael Probst)
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Russia MP Wants Shawarma to be Served at the Duma

A man slices cuts of shawarma inside a restaurant cafe in Frankfurt, Germany, Thursday, November 30, 2017 (AP Photo/Michael Probst)
A man slices cuts of shawarma inside a restaurant cafe in Frankfurt, Germany, Thursday, November 30, 2017 (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

A Russian MP has called to open a kiosk to sell Shawarma at the Russian Parliament, Duma, and to assign this mission to a chef from Syria or the Caucasus.

During a Duma session on Monday, United Russia MP Vitaly Milonov spoke about the difficulty of leaving his workplace to buy food.

"Cooks should be from Syria or the Caucasus. I’m sure no one will go to the restaurants, and all MPs will wait in line for a kebab, I say to you!" the MP said.

Milonov insisted on his request and recommended 250 rubles ($4) as the price of one shawarma at the Duma.

This suggestion comes as debate on shawarma stores rises in the Russian capital, after the commission concerned in food monitoring revealed violations in shawarma shops, including the neglect of health standards.

In this regard, Milonov considered that the shawarma sold in these shops is "disgusting" when compared to the genuine shawarma.

Over the past few years, shawarma has become widespread in different Russian cities. Shops selling it have seen a remarkable turnout compared to other fast food restaurants.

Shawarma has reportedly become the number one meal, and made headlines on Russian social media websites and pages such as the "Beauty and Shawarma" dedicated to share photos of Russian women eating shawarma sandwiches.



Many US Ice Cream Producers to Phase Out Artificial Food Dyes by 2028

Volunteers scoop ice cream before a press conference on the steps of the United States Department of Agriculture on July 14, 2025, in Washington, DC. (Getty Images/AFP)
Volunteers scoop ice cream before a press conference on the steps of the United States Department of Agriculture on July 14, 2025, in Washington, DC. (Getty Images/AFP)
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Many US Ice Cream Producers to Phase Out Artificial Food Dyes by 2028

Volunteers scoop ice cream before a press conference on the steps of the United States Department of Agriculture on July 14, 2025, in Washington, DC. (Getty Images/AFP)
Volunteers scoop ice cream before a press conference on the steps of the United States Department of Agriculture on July 14, 2025, in Washington, DC. (Getty Images/AFP)

Dozens of US ice cream producers are planning to remove artificial colors from their products by 2028, a dairy industry group and government officials said on Monday.

The producers, which together represent more than 90% of ice cream sold in the US, are the latest food companies to take voluntary steps to remove dyes since Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in April said the US aimed to phase out many synthetic dyes from the country's food supply.

Several major food manufacturers, including General Mills, Kraft Heinz, J.M. Smucker, Hershey and Nestle USA, have previously announced their plans to phase out synthetic food coloring.

The 40 ice cream companies will remove Red 3, Red 40, Green 3, Blue 1, Blue 2, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6 from their retail products, excluding non-dairy products, according to the International Dairy Foods Association.

The IDFA announced the plan at an event at the US Department of Agriculture headquarters on Monday with Kennedy, FDA Commissioner Marty Makary and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins.

"We know that our current health outcomes, especially for our children, are unsustainable and that American agriculture is at the heart of the solution to make America healthy again," Rollins said at the event, referencing a slogan aligned with Kennedy.

Rollins and Kennedy have worked closely together on food sector efforts like encouraging states to ban soda from the nation's largest food aid program.

Kennedy has blamed food dyes for rising rates of ADHD and cancer, an area many scientists say requires more research.

The IDFA said artificial dyes are safe, but that ice cream makers are taking the step in part to avoid disruption to sales from state efforts to phase out dyes from school foods and West Virginia's recent food dye ban.