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WASHINGTON, March 21 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said Tuesday it has instituted pathogen testing of all shipments of raw beef and ready-to-eat products from Brazil amid a massive meat adulteration scandal in the Latin American country.
The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) "is now testing all lots of raw beef trimmings and ready-to-eat product from Brazil for pathogens," an agency spokesperson said. "It is also conducting increased examination of all of those products."
In addition, the USDA's FSIS was in contact with USDA embassy officials and Brazil's ministry about their investigation.
"We will continue to monitor the events as they unfold," the spokesperson said.
On Friday, Brazilian police uncovered a massive meat adulteration scheme involving some of the country's largest meat producers.
According to the police, the adulterated meat was sold in the domestic market as well as exported.
The European Union, South Korea and Chile have announced full or partial suspensions of shipments of meat and chicken from Brazil.
