Grace, LASCO ready to quarantine
LOCAL FOOD-DISTRIBUTION giants GraceKennedy and LASCO have both recalled their respective brands of corned beef, in line with the Government’s immediate ban on the product. Both companies have also said they will quarantine the recalled goods.
GraceKennedy said it receives 100 per cent of its corned beef from Brazil.
On Monday evening, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries ordered an immediate ban on the importation of corned beef from the country amid reports of several major Brazilian meat processors being under investigation for “selling rotten beef and poultry” for years. The public was also urged not to consume any.
The ministry said it will undertake the necessary tests and investigations and advise the public.
“For those people, retail or individual, who have purchased Grace corned beef, know that you can return same to GraceKennedy and be afforded your full refund,” chief executive officer of Grace Foods, Andrea Coy, told The Gleaner.
Up to midday yesterday, some wholesalers and vendors were still selling the popular commodity.
URGING COMPLIANCE
Coy is urging compliance, noting that the sooner they are taken off the shelves, the sooner tests can be completed. She said the company’s overseas business will not be affected.
“We have been advised by our overseas companies that shipments of corned beef from Brazil will continue into Canada and the USA with no regulatory changes at this time. Those countries will continue to implement sampling at their borders, as they have been doing since 2010,” she said.
Additionally, a team from Grace Foods has planned an urgent trip to Brazil to meet with suppliers and do further investigations around the concerns raised.
Like its competitor, LASCO imports the vast majority of its corned beef product from Brazil.
A LASCO official said the company has taken the necessary steps to have customers return the product to the point of purchase.