October 26, 2010

Russia bans JBS, Smithfield pork plants

Russia has put the brakes on imports of pork from a Smithfield Foods-owned plant and JBS USA plant, according to USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).

The suspension of John Morrell's Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and JBS's Marshalltown, Iowa, plants both stemmed from Russia's finding of excessive amounts of tetracycline in shipments from the two facilities, a government source said.

FSIS noted that both plants can ship product certified for export by November 3. The ban is effective November 4, 2010.