October 30, 2006

 

US military to inspect poultry from South Korean company

 

 

The US military in South Korea is conducting inspections before allowing a supplier to continue supplying it with chickens after an earlier inspection found levels of bacteria higher than normal.

 

The company, Moguchon, said it has rectified the problems and is confident it would lay the earlier worries to rest.

 

Weeks ago, the company, which processes poultry for the Defense Commisary Agency, voluntarily removed their product due to minor problems related to refrigeration and storage in their processing facility, Col. Stanley Smith, the 106th Medical Detachment commander, said in a statement.

 

However, it has been working on the problem over the last month and they have since been resolved, he wrote.

 

An inspection is scheduled for early this week to determine the safety of the poultry, and Moguchon officials said they are confident they would pass the inspection.

 

The company first issued a recall of the poultry from South Korea stores in July, when the detachment discovered higher-than-normal bacteria levels during routine testing.

 

The concern was about E. coli bacteria that can cause severe intestinal illness.

 

Moguchon officials said their chicken passes South Korean quality standards, but American standards are stricter.

 

The company also contend that the hot weather in summer made it hard for the company's refrigerated trucks to chill fresh meat according to American standards.

 

Military officials have reported no illnesses because of the bacteria and said the concerns were minor.