All but one U.S. meat packer has been relisted for exports to Mexico, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service.
Thirty plants were suspended Dec. 23 with USDA officials initially giving no reason. Early industry speculation was that Mexico was responding to Congress passing country of origin labeling, which Mexico opposes. Government officials from both countries denied any connection between COOL and the suspensions.
On Dec. 26, a USDA spokesperson told Meatingplace.com, an online meat industry news service, that the suspensions were prompted by "miscellaneous findings including a range of issues at port-of-entry inspections including condition of product, sanitation and possible pathogen findings."
Vin-Lee-Ron Meats of Menone, Ind., is the only plant not reinstated for export to Mexico. As of Jan. 5, the company had not sent its corrective action report to the USDA for submission to Mexico.
Source: The Country Today
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