With a scandal clouding Brazil’s meatpackers, Montana Sen. Jon Tester announced legislation for a 120-day ban on U.S. imports of meat from the South American country. The ban will give USDA “time to comprehensively investigate food safety threats and to determine which Brazilian beef sources put American consumers at risk,” said Tester’s office.
Brazilian Agriculture Minister Blairo Maggi announced the government had suspended exports from 21 meat processing plants. Police raided meatpackers at the end of last week in an investigation that accused meat inspectors “of taking bribes to allow sales of rotten and salmonella-tainted meats,” said Reuters. Maggi said the investigation was “alarmist” and tarnished an entire industry with allegations aimed at a small number of plants.
Brazil is the world’s largest exporter of red meat and poultry. Police named JBS, the world’s largest meat producer, and BRF SA, the world’s largest poultry exporter among dozens of packers under investigation. The companies have denied wrongdoing.