Police have targeted plants belonging to meat companies BRF, JBS and Grupo Peccin in response to allegations that corrupt officials had let rancid products to be exported overseas.
Following a two-year investigation of the meatpacking industry, police have accused more than 100 food inspectors and officials of accepting bribes in exchange for overlooking unsanitary factory conditions and potentially contaminated meat and falsifying export documents.
Brazilian federal prosecutors heading the investigation allege some sausages and cold cuts contained animal parts such as pig heads, some meat products were adulterated with cardboard, and that in some cases, acid was used to mask the smell of tainted meat, according to Bloomberg.
China, the largest importer of Brazilian chicken and beef, temporarily suspended shipments, while Hong Kong and Switzerland have enforced an outright ban of all meat from the South American country.
