Russia imagines a future without western foods

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/07/russia-import-ban-social-media-reaction

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The Kremlin has banned a range western food imports including fruit, vegetables, meat and diary, in a tit-for-tat response to international sanctions over the Ukraine crisis.

Prime minister Dmitry Medvedev told parliament on Thursday that the ban was effective immediately and would last for one year, prompting hundreds to take to social media to imagine their culinary future.

Having shared details of the food ban in a Facebook post, Medvedev received a wave of support for the move. He assured his followers that the Russian market will still “be filled with our fresh, quality products”.

Many said they would be more than happy to pass over McDonald’s and Coca-Cola in favour of more traditional foods. One offered milk and from Kazakhstan “without preservatives and antibiotics!” and some suggested the move could only be a good thing for Russian waistlines.

These were sentiments echoed on Twitter. But who can be sure that Russian potato cutlets (котлеты) offer more nutrition than a Big Mac?

#аккуратныесанкции полезны для вашего здоровья pic.twitter.com/0oRRgpmBr8

Some wondered if Russia’s culinary future would hark back to the Soviet-era cornucopia of fresh fruit and vegetables.

В ответ на санкции Россия ограничит ввоз сельхозпродукции http://t.co/pft7JvkvZj Угол падения, равен углу отражения. pic.twitter.com/A1VatIRgkI

Others asked: would it resemble the dystopian world portrayed in Suzanne Collins’ bestselling books?

pic.twitter.com/hChh1qFQDi

“In response to the sanctions, the strawberries have decided to yield a second crop,” joked @Veche_Kirov.

В ответ на санкции клубника решила дать второй урожай. pic.twitter.com/WDjrlzeB6q

Twitter user @alburov said he would not forgive Russian president Vladimir Putin if his treasured camembert cheese ended up on the list of banned foods.

Вот их я Путину не прощу pic.twitter.com/XDgsrS6QI0

With EU-grown vegetables high on the list of banned foods, some put forward top tips on how Russians could grow their own.

Подписываемся, господа pic.twitter.com/lxQDBUBmJS

But claims that this is the future of Azbuka Vkusa – a supermarket chain with a heavy focus on imported goods – may be exaggerated.

Азбука Вкуса, Москва, Россия, 2014 pic.twitter.com/FT9iFh2AUZ

Some others wondered if it will be Instagram — which is hugely popular in Russia — which could bare the full brunt of the ban. The #foodporn hashtag, usually full of culinary delights, may soon be awash with the brown-greyish combination of meat and buckwheat pictured in this meme captioned “Russian Instagram, 2015”.

— Пссссс... Еда интересует? pic.twitter.com/lFmQk0W1g9