June 18, 2010

US group calls for Brazilian beef inspection

Food & Water Watch, a Washington, DC-based consumer group, yesterday called on USDA to investigate imported beef products from Brazil that could be adulterated with residues of the veterinary drug Ivermectin.
 

In a letter to the Inspector General, the group detailed the discovery of residue contamination problems in processed beef products from Brazil, problems which caused the USDA suspend processed beef imports from Brazil entirely.

According to Food & Water Watch, the agency has failed to call for a recall of the products that entered the US before the imports were halted. They believe the potentially contaminated meat made it into canned meat products, which are likely still on shelves.
 

"We believe the current situation continues to show a very confusing agency policy on recalls associated with excessive residue levels in products it regulates," wrote Wenonah Hauter, director of Food & Water Watch.
 

This specific case comes just months after an investigation by the agency's Inspector General revealed severe flaws in the agency's programme in the federal food safety system meant to keep chemical or drug residues out of meat products.

The report found that the agency failed to establish residue limits and stated that the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service does not attempt to recall meat, even when its tests have confirmed the "excessive presence of veterinary drugs."