By Tom Johnston on 4/30/2008 for Meatingplace.com
USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service said Russia has banned imports of pork from four U.S. processing plants, claiming to have detected an antibiotic in the meat.
Russia suspended imports of pork from Tyson Foods Inc.'s Storm Lake, Iowa, and Logansport, Ind., plants and Farmland Foods' Crete, Neb., and Monmouth, Ill., plants. Farmland Foods is owned by Smithfield Foods.
"They had a question about tetracycline," USDA Press Secretary Keith Williams told Meatingplace.com. "We will work it out with them. As usual, in these business arrangements, they ask about shipments; we make inquiries and resolve the issue."
Tetracycline is used to fight bacterial infections by way of injection. The antibiotic also is used as an additive in hog feed to boost growth. Whether the drug is prohibited by Russia as it relates to pork imports is "part of what we're checking — seeing what their question is and the basis of what they're asking," Williams said.
Tyson spokesman Gary Mickelson told Meatingplace.com, "We're still trying to learn more about the reason for the suspension." He noted the company will continue to serve its Russian customers through its four other U.S. pork plants, which remain eligible to export to Russia.
Smithfield could not be reached for comment.
The ban is effective May 5. "Certificates can be signed for pork originating from this establishment through May 4, 2008. Product must be loaded on ship by May 4, 2008," FSIS said on its Web site.
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