Kaktus.media visited the production facilities of "Riha" to see the manufacturing and quality control processes.
Spoiler: the company "Riha" meticulously controls all stages of production. All necessary certificates are available not only for the finished products and raw materials but also for packaging, spices, casings, and food additives.
Procedure for Obtaining Certification and Compliance
"Riha" is a vivid example of transforming a small workshop into a large company. In 1996, a meat processing workshop was opened with just five employees. Today, it has grown into a powerful group of companies with a product range exceeding 250 types of sausages, delicacies, and semi-finished products."We always send our products for analysis to two accredited laboratories in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. They check for compliance with halal standards, including testing for the presence of pork. Although regulations state that such checks should be conducted once a year, we carry them out every two months to ensure quality," said Eleonora Choyubekova, food safety manager at OsOO "Riha".
According to official DNA tests conducted on our samples, no pork was found. The products of OsOO "Riha" fully comply with halal standards.The company also conducted an audit of all its suppliers, which confirmed that their products meet halal standards, allowing the use of raw materials for production in accordance with Sharia norms.
Company representatives emphasize that they bear full responsibility only for the products manufactured at their plant. All control stages, including incoming meat raw material checks, halal inspections, and laboratory tests, are carried out on-site.
"All employees are required to wear special uniforms and gloves. Touching finished products without gloves is prohibited. We strictly monitor compliance with all norms at every stage of production," added the chief technologist of OsOO "Riha," Aigul Azhibekova.
How Could Pork DNA Appear in the Products?
Eleonora Choyubekova, the food safety manager, spoke about a video that is currently being actively circulated on social media. She noted that the results of the "expertise" were obtained without the company's knowledge, samples were taken by a third party, and it is unknown whether storage and transportation conditions were followed. The DNA test does not indicate the source of the pork in the product—it could have occurred outside the factory.It is worth noting that this DNA test was requested as part of a criminal case concerning the warehouse manager of a military unit. The protocol does not specify where exactly the pork DNA was found—on the casing or in the product itself. It is incorrectly interpreted on social media that it was "in the meat."At "Riha," it is assumed that pork DNA could have entered the products as a result of contamination (pollution by another substance).
"This could happen during transportation or storage. It is unacceptable for halal products to be stored alongside other goods. We check all raw materials and are confident in their quality. We do not know under what conditions the samples were taken for analysis and how they were stored," explained Aigul Azhibekova.
The products mentioned in the video have recently been certified. We have all the documents, including research protocols, confirming the absence of pork DNA.The company emphasizes that according to the rules of chemical toxicology and veterinary and sanitary expertise, a DNA test cannot determine the source of DNA contamination. It only records traces that may have appeared, for example, as a result of improper storage or joint warehousing.
"Riha" is Open for Public Oversight
The company "Riha" states its readiness for inspections. In light of the video, they invited a commission from the Muftiyat of Kyrgyzstan to review all documents and the production process itself to confirm compliance with halal standards.
"We are ready to provide all necessary documents and cooperate with competent authorities to confirm the safety and halal purity of our products. We are open to visits and ready to show all stages of production to maintain the trust of our consumers," concluded Aigul Azhibekova.
