After reports of inspectors taking bribes to allow the sale of contaminated meat, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is now testing shipments of raw beef and ready-to-eat meat products originating from Brazil.
According to reports, meatpackers in Brazil have been shipping out Salmonella-tainted beef products--a problem that is known and ignored by some official health inspectors. As a result, two Brazilian meatpacking companies are being investigated. Police have issued at least 38 arrest warrants in connection to the sale of tainted, expired meat. Reports indicate that police found meat that had been treated with water and manioc flour in an effort to disguise the spoiled meat’s discoloration and foul odor.