Despite recent comments by Minerva South America’s meat executive that they intend to export fresh beef to the U.S. the first quarter of 2018, a USDA official says the ban on Brazilian product remains in place. R-CALF CEO Bill Bullard is pleased the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service is holding the line on the Brazilian beef ban, especially since there are significant food safety problems remaining in Brazil.
He says it will take Brazil a long time to prove their meat is safe and that they can meet U.S. meat federal inspection standards.
Bullard says if FSIS backtracks on the beef ban and tainted beef gets into the U.S, consumers who have a bad experience may stop eating meat.
Carmen Rottenberg the Acting Deputy Undersecretary of USDA FSIS says they’re still waiting for Brazil to show them how they’ve resolved their food safety concerns that caused the ban to be implemented this past June.
