The world’s biggest packer, JBS, suspended meat production at 33 of its 36 meatpacking plants in Brazil as countries continue to ban Brazilian beef due to the corruption scandal and ongoing investigation. Reuters is reporting that a Brazil police investigation is alleging that multiple meat processors bribed inspectors to turn a blind eye to unsanitary or irregular activity. Those activities are causing challenges to the condition of Brazil’s meat exports. JBS is one of the dozens of firms that police are looking into as part of the ongoing meat investigation, but the company admits to no wrongdoing. Countries that have implemented full or partial bans on Brazilian meat include Egypt, China, Mexico, Canada, the European Union, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Switzerland, Hong Kong and Chile. The United States Food Safety and Inspection Service has issued no ban on beef products from Brazil. However, the service has put pathogen testing in place and increased the examination of all imports of raw beef and ready-to-eat products coming in from Brazil. Donald Trump’s nominee for Ag Secretary, Sonny Perdue, said at his confirmation hearing that he wouldn’t call for a ban either, fearing retaliation from other countries against American agricultural products.
From the National Association of Farm Broadcasting news service.