When buying different products in the store, people pay little attention to the manufacturer, nutritional and energy value, place of production and other signs indicated on the labels, the only thing that worries most is the expiration date. The manufacturer is simply obliged to indicate his and all other information on the product. There are certain conditions for the production of material, product, product. These conditions are often determined by GOST. Many probably heard the phrase "made in accordance with GOST". This means that during the production all the conditions set by him were met. Sometimes such a mark is missing, but technical specifications (TU) are indicated instead. What is the difference between GOST and TU? And what other production standards exist? Let's try to figure it out.
Quality standard
By the way, the abbreviation GOST means "state control". Based on the expression, we can understand that this is the control established by the state. This system was adopted quite a long time ago - during the USSR. Its purpose is quite clear and understandable - this is a strict regulation of all goods.
What goes in there? These are practically all production processes: storage, labeling, quality, transportation - all that turns the initial raw materials into a full-fledged product. What is the difference between GOST and technical conditions?
What is the difference between GOST and TU for products?
TU, like GOST, is a document establishing certain requirements in accordance with which a product, product or product should be produced. If the first document was introduced back in the USSR, then who sets the technical conditions? This document is developed by decision of the manufacturer or the consumer of the product. The development of specifications is carried out by the manufacturer or by special authorities. Another option is to purchase a ready-made document with prescribed technical conditions. As a rule, making an application for the development of technical conditions is not cheap. Costs will amount to more than 15 thousand rubles.
Should I trust GOST?
Every day we visit grocery stores. When purchasing certain foods, we pay little attention to their manufacturing conditions. And the one who does this wants to buy products made according to the "golden" model.
We are all used to the fact that GOST is a synonym for the word “quality”. Therefore, such products are of high quality, they are reliable and safe, but is it really so? Let's try to figure out how high quality food products made according to GOST are.
Are guest products safe?
Opinions differ on this issue. For example, preservatives of various kinds according to the rules of GOST are allowed to be added to products, as well as food colors. Potassium orthophosphate is added to cheese, for example, during production. Sodium acid is also present in this product. These components in this case help to make a "holey" cheese. First, it is provided with fermentation, and then it is inhibited by the above substances. The result is the same cheese with holes. It is worth noting that the nitrite content in the products is harmful. Of course, you can do without them, but then the cheese will have small holes. But these are holes obtained in a natural way, without the use of harmful components.
About dairy products
What is the difference between GOST and TU for dairy products? If someone says that dairy products manufactured according to the first standard are better than those on whose packaging the technical conditions are indicated, then it is not a fact that they will be right.
In fact, GOST is far from an indicator of quality, certain specifications can provide the product much more benefit. Take the simplest example - yogurt. The manufacturer in the production of this product can quite legitimately use milk powder. Another component that is most often present there is calcium chloride. But the manufacture of the product is possible without these components, and in this case the product will be more high-quality. But GOST for some reason provides for the first option.
About other foods
Today, there is GOST for sausage, but most manufacturers still indicate the technical conditions. What is the difference between GOST and TU for sausage?
State control involves the manufacture of only a certain type of product, strictly limited in raw materials, the use of proteins, spices and other components. The sausage made in accordance with GOST is quite tasty and reminds many of the old Soviet times. As soon as manufacturers were allowed to deviate from the rules of state control, the production of products, including sausages, became much larger. Therefore, for those who prefer variety in food, it is better to choose a sausage, on which technical conditions are indicated instead of GOST. But as for sausages, then it is better to adhere to those that are made under state control.
Modern products contain a very large amount of soy - a product that is harmful to our body in such a large amount. Sausages produced according to GOST are much safer. This type of control really has more stringent requirements. With the main products purchased daily in the store, everything is more or less clear, but what about materials and products? For example, what is the difference between GOST and TU for metal rolling?
Metal production
As it turns out, it's the other way around. Metal products certainly require high-quality production. Consider this moment on the example of pipes. They are completely different and are used for different purposes. Nevertheless, almost all of them have developed technical specifications.
The fact is that GOST, presenting certain requirements, also dictates limitations. For some pipes, a production technology that is not provided for by state control is necessary. For example, some products need more pressure or a certain diameter. For the operation of pipes in the north, it is simply necessary to produce heavy-duty pipes. That is why the conditions imposed by TU on metal are much more stringent than the requirements imposed by GOST. To understand the technical conditions, it is important to know what these or those specifications indicate. Usually on the manufacturer’s website this information is spelled out in detail.
Cable. TU and GOST. What is the difference?
Which cable to choose? First you need to decide which cable is needed and what brand it will be. Another question: state control or technical conditions? The most important thing to consider first is safety. What is the difference between a cable manufactured in accordance with TU and GOST?
An important feature of any cable is that it is characterized by TU. The thing is that the enterprise or plant has its own technology. That is, it makes from a certain material, uses a certain insulation and so on. This happens with every product. That is why each cable has a TU. After the production of the model, all this goes to the state, which, in turn, makes its own requirements for the cable, and if it meets these requirements, it therefore complies with GOST. TU cable has its own number, and this is normal. But what if the manufacturer’s standards do not coincide with state standards? Nothing. It is absolutely normal when the conditions do not correspond to state control. This is the second category, and the first is when the technical specifications correspond exactly to GOST. It is very difficult to determine by which technology the cable is made. This can be done by looking at the label. Attention should be paid to the
designation EAC.Cons of GOST
Unfortunately, there are a lot of them. Whatever good TUs are, most people still prefer products made under state control. Why is this happening? For people, GOST means everything is only the best, it is a kind of gold standard. But if it is such, then where does it contain dyes, stabilizers, thickeners and other chemicals from?
First, do not forget that GOST is not the recipe for which we take it, and it is by no means ideal. Incidentally, it was not created for consumer purposes, but for the benefit of the state. Secondly, GOST is not updated as often as we would like. Many of the requirements are the same as in Soviet times. Thirdly, do not trust the label. If it says on it that the product is manufactured according to GOST, this does not mean at all that it is so. Or another example: the product, as expected, is made under state control, but this control has long ceased to exist. But the manufacturer, apparently, this information is unknown. Therefore, do not consider GOST the best indicator of quality. For some, this is just 4 letters, which do not imply high-quality products, products and materials. In addition to GOST and TU, there may be another mark on them. For example, STO. What does this mean?
STO - what does it mean?
STO stands for Organization Standard. It is registered by a legal entity. STO - this is such a document that establishes certain requirements, and these products must comply with them. But its peculiarity is that this standard is not required to undergo examination on standardization and metrology. Responsibility for the quality of the products on which the service station is indicated lies with the head or the company where the product was produced. That is, by consuming similar products, we fully trust their manufacturer. What is the difference between STO and GOST? Not much. In fact, the organization’s standard is akin to GOST. The first can be accepted by any enterprise, and the second is accepted at a higher level.
What to stop at?
It is believed that TU and STO are lower standards in comparison with state control. But in fact, often everything turns out to be the other way around. Firstly, service stations are not always as bad as, however, GOST is not always good. Secondly, technical conditions are precisely those conditions in which the product was created. In this case, the manufacturer provides buyers with true information. Thirdly, quality often depends on the industry where the product is manufactured. Some products and products are good by GOST, while others - by the technical conditions by which they are made. Therefore, which products to choose, everyone decides for himself.