Senators seek review of Marfrig acquisition of National Beef

Four U.S. senators have asked a national security panel if the planned acquisition of National Beef Packing Co. by Brazil’s Marfrig Global Foods threatens the safety of the U.S. food supply, Reuters reports.

Senators Charles Grassley and Joni Ernst of Iowa, Debbie Stabenow of Michigan and Sherrod Brown of Ohio, who are all members of the Senate’s Agriculture Committee, expressed their concerns that the company was being acquired by a Brazilian company after the United States banned imports of fresh Brazilian beef due to food safety concerns. They have sent a letter to Treasure Secretary Steven Mnuchin asking that the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), which is overseen by the Treasury, review the deal.

Last year, the USDA halted shipments of Brazilian beef to the U.S., after allegations that Brazilian inspectors were bring bribed to allow potentially contaminated beef to be exported to other countries.

Source: Reuters