Society & Culture
In 2024, an investigative report by Radio Free Europe brought to light controversial practices at Kvarli Bagi, a raw milk-producing farm owned by businessman Lasha Papashvili in Georgia. The report detailed the farm's practice of feeding its dairy cows with chicken litter, a substance banned as animal feed in the European Union.1 This revelation sparked considerable scrutiny due to potential implications for animal health, food safety, and public health. The milk produced by Kvarli Bagi was supplied to several well-known Georgian companies, including Sante, Soflis Nobati (owned by PepsiCo), Agrohabi, and Kvarlis Bagi’s own subsidiary, Dairy Laboratory.1
The controversy extended to the source of the chicken litter. Kvarli Bagi purchased this feed from Chirina, a poultry company with a history of supplying similar material.1 Interestingly, in 2020, Lasha Papashvili had initiated legal action against Chirina, alleging that the chicken litter had caused significant harm to his livestock, leading to the death of numerous cows and a reported loss of 1.65 million Georgian Lari. Chirina contested these allegations, stating that the chicken litter was sold as fertilizer and not intended for animal consumption.1
The legal battle culminated in December 2024 when the Tbilisi City Court ruled in favor of Kvarli Bagi, awarding damages of 4.7 million Lari against Chirina.1 Court documents revealed that each cow at Kvarli Bagi consumed approximately 6-7 kilograms of chicken litter daily, mixed with other feed.1 A crucial piece of evidence presented by the farm was laboratory analysis indicating the presence of tetracycline, an antibiotic, in the milk of the affected cows. The court linked this antibiotic contamination to the deaths of nearly 200 cows, holding Chirina responsible for covering the costs of replacing the animals and repaying associated loans.1
However, a subsequent official letter from the National Food Agency of Georgia complicated the narrative. This letter indicated that tetracycline is not classified as a banned veterinary drug in Georgia and is still utilized by farmers in the country.1 Furthermore, court documents revealed that Kvarli Bagi’s own veterinarian had administered tetracycline to treat the cows.1 Chirina, while denying the use of tetracycline in its chicken feed, admitted to using other medications.1
In the aftermath of these revelations, companies purchasing milk from Kvarli Bagi were questioned about their testing protocols for antibiotics and their awareness of the use of EU-banned chicken litter as feed. Soflis Nobati stated that their records for the relevant period were unavailable but affirmed that any ingredient not meeting their quality standards would be rejected.1 Agrohabi clarified that they were unaware of the chicken litter being used for cattle feed but emphasized their routine testing for antibiotics and rejection of substandard batches.1 Sante disclosed that they had detected antibiotic contamination in milk from Kvarli Bagi in 2018, leading them to cease accepting their milk.1
Following his legal victory, Lasha Papashvili, a known supporter of the ruling Georgian Dream party, publicly praised the leadership of Bidzina Ivanishvili, the former Prime Minister, for his role in maintaining peace and fostering economic development in Georgia.1 This public endorsement led to a related incident in January 2025, where a group of theater professionals returned a prestigious award to Papashvili’s Redix Group, distancing themselves from his political affiliations.1
This report aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the Kvarli Bagi incident. It will delve into the biophysical implications of feeding chicken litter to dairy cows, examine the European Union’s regulations on this practice, explore the effects of tetracycline on cows and the potential sources of contamination, assess the human health risks associated with consuming milk containing tetracycline, review the testing procedures for antibiotics
The controversy extended to the source of the chicken litter. Kvarli Bagi purchased this feed from Chirina, a poultry company with a history of supplying similar material.1 Interestingly, in 2020, Lasha Papashvili had initiated legal action against Chirina, alleging that the chicken litter had caused significant harm to his livestock, leading to the death of numerous cows and a reported loss of 1.65 million Georgian Lari. Chirina contested these allegations, stating that the chicken litter was sold as fertilizer and not intended for animal consumption.1
The legal battle culminated in December 2024 when the Tbilisi City Court ruled in favor of Kvarli Bagi, awarding damages of 4.7 million Lari against Chirina.1 Court documents revealed that each cow at Kvarli Bagi consumed approximately 6-7 kilograms of chicken litter daily, mixed with other feed.1 A crucial piece of evidence presented by the farm was laboratory analysis indicating the presence of tetracycline, an antibiotic, in the milk of the affected cows. The court linked this antibiotic contamination to the deaths of nearly 200 cows, holding Chirina responsible for covering the costs of replacing the animals and repaying associated loans.1
However, a subsequent official letter from the National Food Agency of Georgia complicated the narrative. This letter indicated that tetracycline is not classified as a banned veterinary drug in Georgia and is still utilized by farmers in the country.1 Furthermore, court documents revealed that Kvarli Bagi’s own veterinarian had administered tetracycline to treat the cows.1 Chirina, while denying the use of tetracycline in its chicken feed, admitted to using other medications.1
In the aftermath of these revelations, companies purchasing milk from Kvarli Bagi were questioned about their testing protocols for antibiotics and their awareness of the use of EU-banned chicken litter as feed. Soflis Nobati stated that their records for the relevant period were unavailable but affirmed that any ingredient not meeting their quality standards would be rejected.1 Agrohabi clarified that they were unaware of the chicken litter being used for cattle feed but emphasized their routine testing for antibiotics and rejection of substandard batches.1 Sante disclosed that they had detected antibiotic contamination in milk from Kvarli Bagi in 2018, leading them to cease accepting their milk.1
Following his legal victory, Lasha Papashvili, a known supporter of the ruling Georgian Dream party, publicly praised the leadership of Bidzina Ivanishvili, the former Prime Minister, for his role in maintaining peace and fostering economic development in Georgia.1 This public endorsement led to a related incident in January 2025, where a group of theater professionals returned a prestigious award to Papashvili’s Redix Group, distancing themselves from his political affiliations.1
This report aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the Kvarli Bagi incident. It will delve into the biophysical implications of feeding chicken litter to dairy cows, examine the European Union’s regulations on this practice, explore the effects of tetracycline on cows and the potential sources of contamination, assess the human health risks associated with consuming milk containing tetracycline, review the testing procedures for antibiotics