Russia halting chicken imports from 3 plants
USDA: Russia halting imports from 3 chicken plants in La, Miss, Ga; claims drug residue
* Friday March 20, 2009, 6:32 pm EDT
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NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- Russia says it found drug residue in chicken from processing plants in Louisiana, Mississippi and Georgia, and will stop taking imports from them next Friday.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Russia says it found antibiotics and anti-parasitic drugs in chicken from Sanderson Farms in Hammond, La., Peco Foods in Canton, Miss., and Tyson Foods in Cumming, Ga.
Spokesman Gary Mickelson, in Springdale, Ark., says the Tyson plant is producing safe, high-quality products.
Spokesmen for the other companies could not be reached Friday evening.
USDA spokeswoman Bryn Burkard says the agency has asked Russia for more information. She says once that arrives, the agency will find out whether the drugs were used and then take appropriate action.