March 3, 2026

Authorities Update GOST for White Bread for the First Time in 40 Years. Fixed Weight and Sales Term Recommendations Removed

Rosstandard has changed the GOST for white bread made from wheat flour for the first time in 40 years. RIA Novosti reports this. The new regulation will replace the Soviet one, which had been in effect since 1986. The changes will come into force on April 1. Restrictions on the minimum weight of the product have disappeared from the GOST. Now manufacturers will be able to produce bread weighing less than 500 grams. The recommendation for a sales period within 24 hours from the moment of baking has also been excluded from the standard. The standard also specifies the list of permitted raw materials: wheat baking flour (highest, first, and second grades), yeast, salt, water, and sugar. A number of food additives are allowed - flour treatment agents, antioxidants, enzyme preparations. The reduction in product weight while maintaining the previous price is a trend that has affected other products in recent years: cereals, dairy products, sweets, and snacks. Formally, the packaging complies with the rules and labeling, but in fact, buyers receive a smaller volume of goods for the same money, notes "Siren".