The Jamaican government has banned the importation of corn beef from Brazil following reports that several major Brazilian meat processors have been “selling rotten beef and poultry”.
Brazilian authorities say the companies are also alleged to have paid hefty bribes to auditors in exchange for fraudulent sanitary licences.
The Ministry of Agriculture says companies implicated by the Brazilian authorities supply 99.5 per cent of the corned beef on the local market.
Agriculture Minister Karl Samuda during an emergency meeting called on Monday stressed the importance of safeguarding the welfare of consumers.
According to a statement, the ministry also convened a meeting with major distributors and importers of corned beef.
Besides the temporary ban, the ministry said with immediate effect there would be a “temporary hold will be placed on all permits for the import of corned beef from Brazil” and as a “precautionary measure, all corned beef currently on the shelves will be withdrawn”.
It said also that the National Food Recall Committee will meet immediately to determine next steps and inform when it will be safe to consume the product.
The ministry also cautioned consumers not to consume corned beef until further notice.
