GraceKennedy

Based on an advisory by Brazilian corned beef supplier JBS SA, Grace Foods USA joined a voluntary Class 2 recall in May 2010 affecting Grace Corned Beef and other brands in the United States. The two affected Grace brand batches are identifiable by the batch codes 100204 and 100205. These relate to production dates February 4 and February 5, 2010. The corned beef produced by JBS SA was manufactured at their Establishment 337 based in Sao Paulo.

According to the advisory from JBS SA, random testing of the product had revealed that these two batches contained higher levels of Ivermectin than is allowed by the United States Department of Agriculture. Ivermectin is an anti-parasitic treatment routinely used to de-worm cattle. A Class 2 recall is issued in cases where there is a remote probability of adverse health effects from consumption of a product.

Our records, as well as those of our supplier, show that the two affected batches of Grace Corned Beef were distributed only in the United States. As a result, GK Foods has not extended the recall to any of our other markets worldwide.

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In terms of the effects of Ivermectin on humans, all the information available indicates that the Ivermectin levels in the two affected batches are miniscule and someone would have to consume an extremely large amount of the product in a very short time to experience any kind of illness.

If you have any further questions on the US recall, kindly email us at gracekennedy@gkco.com

Erwin Burton
Deputy Chief Executive Officer of GraceKennedy Limited
and Chief Executive Officer, GK Foods