China claims it found the coronavirus in Brazilian poultry
Officials from Shenzen, China have declared that traces of the novel coronavirus have been found in frozen poultry imported from Brazil. However, the statement from the Shenzhen City Health Commission does not make it clear whether the virus was on the surface of the packaging or the meat. The statement also said that people in Chinese territory who may have had contact with the product tested negative. Even so, Chinese authorities urged caution when buying imported frozen meat to reduce the risk of contamination.
The chicken batch considered to be contaminated with the novel coronavirus was produced by Aurora in one of its units in Santa Catarina state. The company said there was no official notification from the Chinese authorities. The Catarinense Poultry Association stated that the transport of this type of product takes more than 45 days to China and considers contamination within the productive sector unlikely.
The Brazilian Association of Animal Protein (ABPA) says that there was confusion in the translation and that it understands that China spoke of contamination on the packaging and not on the chicken.
“It is actually an interpretation of Chinese speech, in the Chinese language. He talks about analysis from the outside. Outside analysis can be outside the product or outside the packaging. The virus does not settle inside the flesh. So that is why I am saying: inside the meat, ABPA is saying that it is sure it is not ”, says Ricardo Santin, executive director of ABPA.
Also, in a recent statement, the World Health Organization (WHO) reassured the public that the coronavirus is not transmitted through meat and meat products. In June, health authorities in Beijing have found traces of the virus in a wet market and claimed imported salmon to be the source of the contamination. Since then, temporary bans have been applied for foreign meat processing units impacted by COVID-19 outbreaks.
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