Source:  Tom Johnston, MEATINGPLACE.COM, 8/7/09

Russia has banned imports from six U.S. poultry plants for reasons yet unknown, USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service said.

Effective Aug. 17, these facilities are ineligible to export to Russia:

• Tyson Foods, Blountsville, Ala.
• Tyson Foods, Buena Vista, Ga.
• Tyson Foods, Vienna, Ga.
• Tyson Foods, Robards, Ky.
• Pilgrim's Pride, Dallas, Texas
• Claxton Poultry Farms, Claxton, Ga.

FSIS is not yet clear on why Moscow blacklisted these plants. "FSIS does not have further details at this time," spokesman Brian Mabry told Meatingplace.

Tyson spokesman Gary Mickelson told Meatingplace, "We are in the process of trying to learn more about Russia's decision to delist some of our poultry plants. We can tell you we have confidence in the safety of our products and that we have other plants that remain qualified to ship chicken to our Russian customers."

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