竟然賣黑心肉? 巴西大規模突擊檢查肉類生產商

The authorities in Brazil suspended 33 government officials amid allegations that some of the country's biggest meat processors have been selling rotten beef and poultry for years.

日前，因巴西國內一些大型肉類加工廠多年來出售腐爛的牛肉和家禽，當局已將33名政府官員撤職查辦。

Three meat processing plants have also been closed and another 21 are under scrutiny.

其中3家肉類加工廠已經關門，另外21家也在接受檢查。

Much of the meat produced by the companies accused is exported to Europe and other parts of the world. Brazil is the world's largest red meat exporter.

涉事企業所生產的大多數肉類都被銷往了歐洲和世界其他國家。巴西是全世界最大的紅肉出口國。

Operation Weak Flesh was launched in six Brazilian states after a two-year investigation. Federal police carried out raids in 194 locations, deploying more than 1,000 officers.

在經過兩年的調查之後，巴西6個州展開了弱肉行動。聯邦警察對194個地點進行了突襲，部署了超過1000名警力。

The investigators allege that some managers bribed health inspectors and politicians to get government certificates for their products.

據調查人員表示，一些管理人員通過向衛生檢查員和政客實施賄賂，從而獲得政府頒發的產品證書。

They accuse more than 30 companies of a number of unhygienic practices. Among them are JBS, the world's largest beef exporter, and BRF, the world's top poultry producer.

他們指控有30多家企業的作法不衛生。其中就包括全球最大牛肉出口商JBS公司和全球最大家禽出口商BRF公司。

"They used acid and other chemicals to mask the aspect of the product. In some cases, the products used were carcinogenic," the police said.

警方聲稱：“這些企業使用酸和其他化學物質來改變產品的外觀。在某些案件中，這些產品甚至可以致癌。”

In other cases, potato, water and even cardboard paper was mixed with chicken meat to increase profits.

在其他案例中，企業爲了增加利潤，還將土豆、水、甚至紙板添加到雞肉裏。

JBS said in a statement that it had followed rigorous quality standards and sanitary regulations. BRF said it was co-operating with the investigation. The company also denied breaching regulations.

但JBS公司則在一份聲明中表示，他們一向遵循嚴格的質量標準和衛生條件。而BRF公司則表示正在配合這起調查，他們也否認自己違規。