MOSCOW, March 2 (RIA Novosti) - Activists of the Russian consumers' rights society sued an alcohol manufacturer, who advertises its vodka as "made according to a classical recipe" of noted Russian chemist Dmitry Mendeleev.
Mendeleev is known worldwide mostly for creating the first version of the periodic table of chemical elements. In Russia, popular opinion also credits him with being the semi-legendary "vodka inventor," though he only established national standards for vodka production in the late 19th century.
The brands in question are Russian Standard Gold and Russian Standard Platinum.
"Information on the label states that this liquor was produced according to Mendeleev's classical formula. It even says that the formula is based on ginseng extract and was compiled in 1894. This information is false - Mendeleev was never involved in inventing vodka recipes," the lawsuit reads.
The group of consumers' rights activists accuses the Russian Standard manufacturer of "deliberately distorting historic facts to gain profit."
As a chief of Russian Bureau of Weights and Measures, Mendeleev was charged with setting unified standards of vodka production in 1894. He introduced the state standard which states that all vodka must be 40% alcohol by volume.
"There is no historic document to confirm that the scientist ever created the classic vodka recipe, let alone that he used ginseng for that purpose," the group says.
Activists also demand to remove from the label images of the double-headed eagle, similar to that on the Russian coat of arms, which allegedly make consumers believe that the vodka is produced by a state-run company.
