Despite the fact that more than 15 percent of its residents live in poverty, the Russian government has deemed it necessary and prudent to destroy tons of perfectly fine food products--because they're of western origin. These products include cheese, milk, fruit, and meat that have been imported from the EU, the United States, Canada, and Australia. The ban lasts until August of next year.
From Business Insider:
Even some Kremlin allies are expressing shock at the idea of "food crematoria" while one orthodox priest has denounced the campaign, which officially began on Thursday, as insane and sinful. However, the authorities are determined to press on with destroying illegal imports they consider "a security threat".
Russian TV showed a small mountain of illegally imported European cheese being bulldozed on Thursday while even before the official start, zealous workers threw boxes of European bacon into an incinerator.
Moscow banned many Western food imports last year in retaliation for sanctions imposed by the United States, European Union and other of their allies during the confrontation over Ukraine. But now many Russians say the government has lost sight of the everyday struggles faced by ordinary citizens.
The food is being incinerated to prevent officials from stealing it for themselves. Russia has some of the worst corruption rankings in the world.
This is horrible. The food is safe and poses no danger to Russians. It should be used to feed the needy, not destroyed.