February 28, 2007

Venezuelan government takes control of two processing plants

The Venezuelan government has reportedly taken control of two meat processing plants that were not running at full capacity.

According to Venezuelan newspaper El Nacional, the government did not divulge how long they will take charge of Fricapeca abbatoir in west Zulia state and the Fribarsa meat-processing plant in nearby Barinas state. 

This is the first time the government has enforced a "food security" law put in place earlier this month to reduce alleged food hoarding and price speculation that government officials claimed had caused widespread meat, chicken and sugar shortages.