February 8, 2021

Cherkizovo to investigate cause behind poultry products affected by COVID-19

Cherkizovo Group plans to launch a comprehensive investigation to determine the exact area in its logistic process, where traces of the COVID-19 virus might have affected its shipping packaging.

The action is in response to the recent news of a COVID-19 genome found on the company's packaging of poultry products dispatched to China.

According to Cherkizovo, the COVID-19 genome was identified during the inspection of external shipping packaging of frozen products at a Chinese port several months after these products entered the logistics chain. No traces of the virus were detected in its poultry products.

Cherkizovo also suspected products were affected at a third-party warehouse that receives products from a range of production facilities or during transhipment.

"Cherkizovo Group has been exporting to China since 2019, shipping mostly poultry by-products and chicken feet. These products have limited demand on the domestic market, so the company does not supply them to Russian stores," the company said in a February 4 press release.

"Cherkizovo will make every effort to resolve the issue as fast as possible and resume exports to China.  

"Cherkizovo Group is committed to quality, placing a strong focus on safety and infectious disease prevention. It has the biosafety infrastructure, technology and regulations in place that are in full compliance with Russian and international standards."

- Cherkizovo