FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 22, 2017
Contact: Hannah Packman, 202-554-1600
[email protected]
WASHINGTON –The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the suspension of all imports of fresh beef from Brazil due to food safety and animal health concerns. The announcement came on the heels of a scandal in which Brazil’s largest food-processing giants JBS and BRF were raided by government authorities for allowing rotten meat to be distributed in Brazil and exported to Europe. In response to the decision, NFU President Roger Johnson issued the following statement:
We’ve long had concerns about the importation of fresh beef from Brazil. Since the 2015 repeal of Country-Of-Origin Labeling (COOL), food safety scandals can undermine consumer confidence in the entire beef industry, harming American producers’ bottom line. This incident underscores the importance of COOL to protect American beef producers and consumers alike.
We applaud the USDA’s decision to suspend the importation of fresh Brazilian beef, and we urge them to avoid similar circumstances in the future by following more rigorous importation standards.
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National Farmers Union has been working since 1902 to protect and enhance the economic well-being and quality of life for family farmers, ranchers and rural communities through advocating grassroots-driven policy positions adopted by its membership.
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