Wal-Mart asks Brazil suppliers to clarify alleged bribes to officials

[March 18, 2017]  SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Wal-Mart Stores Inc <WMT.N> has asked suppliers in Brazil to clarify alleged cases of meatpackers bribing health officials to subvert inspections, the retailer said on Friday.
 

A man talks on his mobile phone in front of a Wal-Mart store in Sao Paulo, Brazil, February 16, 2016. REUTERS/Nacho Doce

Brazilian police raided the premises of dozens of meatpackers, including giants JBS SA <JBSS3.SA> and BRF SA <BRFS3.SA>, as part of a probe into the alleged bribes. In a statement, the Brazilian unit of Wal-Mart said it fully trusts its internal food safety procedures. [nL2N1GU0P4]

(Reporting by Paula Laier; Writing by Bruno Federowski; Editing by Sandra Maler)

[© 2017 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.]

Copyright 2017 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.