Brazil inspectors say understaffing, budget cuts caused beef problems

Cris Faga | NurPhoto | Getty Images

A person looks at the refrigerated display case at a butcher’s shop, in Sao Paulo, Brazil on March 20, 2017.

Brazil health inspectors union ANFFA on Monday said understaffing and budget cuts by the government ultimately caused the sanitary problems with beef shipments that led to a U.S. ban on Brazilian fresh meat.

ANFFA said there are around 270 meatpacking installations in Brazil operating without the presence of inspectors. The government denied on Friday deficiencies with inspections, saying the problems indicated by the U.S. government should probably be linked to certain vaccinations.