November 29, 2007

JBS-Swift awaits word on beef shipment to Taiwan

JBS-Swift awaits word from Taiwan on possible suspension of beef imports after the country found bone ships in the last beef shipment.

Marco Sampaio, JBS-Swift spokesman, said they were notified of the violation last Sunday. Yet, until Tuesday morning, they have not received confirmation on the suspension of further shipments.

Taiwan's health department recently asked the US government to improve its quality control after finding bone chips in a shipment of JBS-Swift beef at Keelung Harbor.

The department said all shipments from the company have been suspended pending an investigation.

However, Taiwan confirmed that the shipment contained no animal parts that are considered a high risk for mad cow disease and said there would be no need to remove US beef from Taiwanese food stores.

Only boneless US beef from animals younger than 30 months of age is accepted in Taiwan after a BSE diseased cow was confirmed in the US four years ago.

Last week, the Taiwanese government suspended imports of beef from Cargill Meat Solutions plant in Schuyler, Nebraska, after it found five bone chips in a shipment of more than 40,000 pounds of frozen beef.

A Cargill spokesman apologized for the incident, but stressed the meat was safe for consumption.