July 19, 2010

Russia withholds imports from JBS beef plant

Russia has suspended beef imports from a JBS US plant, USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) said on its website.

Products produced at the company's Plainwell, Mich., beef plant must be loaded prior to July 20 in order to be allowed entry into Russia. Effective July 20, the plant is ineligible to export to Russia, FSIS said.

FSIS did not indicate why Russia banned the Plainwell plant, but a government source said the issue is related to microbiological findings of salmonella.

JBS is reportedly planning an expansion of the Plainwell facility.