Citizens urged to dispose of items or return them

This comes after the European Union, Hong Kong, China, South Korea and Chile placed a ban on Brazilian meat imports.

According to a March 21 BBC Report, the, “crisis was triggered by a huge federal police operation last Friday. It found evidence that meat-packers had been selling rotten and substandard produce for several years.” The article further stated Brazilian president, Michel Temer, held emergency meetings over the weekend and invited foreign diplomats to a steak house on Sunday evening to try to reassure them.

It added that Friday’s raids at meat-processing plants ended in the arrest of more than 30 people.

“The government suspended more than 30 senior civil servants who should have spotted the unhygienic and illegal practices - they are being investigated for corruption. Three packing plants have been closed and another 21 are being investigated… Operation Weak Flesh was launched in the early hours of Friday in six Brazilian states after a two-year investigation. Federal police carried out raids in 194 locations, deploying more than 1,000 officers, ” the article said.

In a release issued to media, the agriculture ministry said, “The Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries today imposed a temporary restriction on imports of all meat products from Brazil.

This step is being taken as a precaution in the light of news this week of an investigation into that country’s meat industry which has raised serious health and food-safety concerns.” It added that yesterday, the Ministry also advised the Chemistry, Food and Drugs Division of the Ministry of Health to embark upon an immediate recall from supermarkets and other retail outlets of corned beef, chicken patties and chicken nuggets originating from Brazil. The recall does not affect meat products which do not originate from Brazil.

The release said futher, “Also, with immediate effect, the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries will stop issuing import permits for meat products from Brazil. These restrictions also apply to permits that have recently been issued, regardless of the status of these imports. This means that import permits for Brazilian meat products that are on order, in transit, landed or bonded in Trinidad and Tobago will be cancelled.” Rambharat assured the public that he is working with several agencies, including the Ministries of Health, Trade, Local Government, the Customs and Excise Division, and the Consumer Affairs Division to protect consumers from potentially unsafe Brazilian meat.

Rambharat said, “I want to emphasise that the products subject to recall are processed meat products only, as Trinidad and Tobago has never issued permits to import raw beef or chicken from Brazil. So while we are cancelling imports of all meat products, the food items being recalled are the corned beef, chicken patties and chicken nuggets made in Brazil.” The relese added that Rambharat was working with Dr Amery Browne, Trinidad and Tobago’s ambassador in Brazil, “to be kept informed of actions being taken by the South American country to restore integrity to its valuable meat-producing sector.” It advised citizens to report stores where items subject to this food-safety recall were still being sold by calling the Consumer Affairs Hotline toll-free at 800-4277.