August 26, 2010

Russia questions US meat quality control 

Rosselkhoznadzor (Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance) has said that there are grounds to believe that the quality control over the production of meat products in the US is insufficient.

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) of the USDA announced earlier that US-based Zemco Industries had recalled over 170 tonnes of meat products which could have been contaminated with dangerous bacteria Listeria monocytogenes (causative agent of listeriosis).

"This incident once again confirms our fears about the current level of quality control in the US. It is clearly insufficient," said Rosselkhoznadzor press secretary Aleksey Alekseyenko.

"In connection with this we are very concerned that in critical situations we do not receive operational official information from our American colleagues," he said, adding that the absence of such information make it impossible to take informed decisions.

Earlier, Rosselkhoznadzor had sent to the FSIS an inquiry about the withdrawal of 1.5 billion salmonella-contaminated eggs, but there has been no response. "In effect, our American colleagues have no system of communication with us," he said, adding that this does not help trade or US companies.

Nevertheless, it was too early to speak about banning US meat imports, Alekseyenko said. "But in any case, quality control will be strengthened. We will also take other measures to ensure safety," he added.

Currently Rosselkhoznadzor is preparing an inquiry to the FSIS about the case of Zemco Industries meat products.