Food
63 people charged over Brazil meat scandal
The scandal led at least 25 countries to temporarily suspend imports of Brazilian meat. (Photo: DrHobo/ Flickr)
RIO DE JANEIRO–Brazil’s Federal Police said Sunday they charged 63 people for taking part in a corruption scheme that sold expired or adulterated meat, China’s Xinhua news agency reported.
The scandal led at least 25 countries to temporarily suspend imports of Brazilian meat.
Among the charges are falsifying medical records and certificates, tampering with food products, conspiracy and corruption.
In March, the police launched a wide-ranging investigation, dubbed “Operation Weak Flesh,” against illegal practices at meatpacking plants.
The operation dismantled groups that allegedly bribed inspectors to overlook altered expiry dates, water-injected meat as well as other unsanitary practices.
A total of 21 meatpacking plants were involved in the scheme, including multinationals BRF and JBS, two of the world’s largest meat producers and exporters.
Brazil is the world’s largest exporter of beef and poultry, and the fourth largest exporter of pork.
The scandal is estimated to cost Brazil’s export market some USD 1.5 billion in lost annual revenue.
