The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

The US decision to suspend all Brazilian beef imports should be viewed as "a warning sign", a Bahamian poultry producer says, arguing that it highlights why this nation needs to become more self-sufficient.

"It's definitely a warning sign," said Lance Pinder, operations manager at the Abaco poultry producer, Abaco Big Bird. "It's kind of like a buyer beware situation. People need to educate themselves on where their food is coming from. What this sort of thing really demonstrates is the fact that as a country we need to produce more locally, not just for our economy and jobs but for our health."

Mr Pinder said that poultry producers were having a very strong summer on Abaco, given the tourist market for boneless chicken breast. "We are having a very strong summer here in Abaco. Nassau in January and February was very suppressed. April was one of the worst in probably ten years. Nassau has bounced back a bit, but our market in Nassau has been a bit soft. Right now our sales are about three per cent higher than the same period last year. Even though sales are up, profits are lower because we have had to sell products like chicken drumsticks at a discount due to imported chicken."

In late March, the government announced a ban on all processed meat imports from Brazil for 60 days as a precaution following the shocking bribery scandal unfolding in the South American country. It was reported at the time that the government of Brazil had suspended exports from 21 meat-processing units due to food inspectors taking bribes to allow sales of rotten and salmonella-tainted meats.

Brazil has been left scrambling to shore up its beef industry's reputation yet again after the United States blocked shipments of fresh cuts, claiming it found abscesses in the meat and signs of systemic failure of inspections. Canada and the European Union has reportedly rejected some shipments of Brazilian beef in recent months. Brazil's government and meat industry has stated that most problems stemmed from vaccinations and were being addressed.