Russian Snickers bars unexpectedly appear in UK shops despite sanctions
Russian-labeled Snickers bars, including “White” and “ice cream flavour” variants, have appeared in London convenience stores, raising concern among regulators due to the lack of English ingredient information, which violates labelling regulations. This case highlights the difficulty of fully disconnecting a major economy from global product flows.
This occurs against the backdrop of sanctions targeting Russia’s oil, metals, and alcohol exports, while food products, including sweets, remain largely unaffected. Although the Snickers brand, owned by Mars Wrigley, officially withdrew from the Russian market in 2022, its products continue to appear on UK shelves, causing confusion in the manufacturer's country. The company explains that it cannot control suppliers who resell products across different markets.
The situation reveals vulnerabilities in sanction enforcement and may prompt stricter oversight and new import regulations to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
