China Bans Exports From Another Arkansas Poultry Plant

The U.S. Department of Agriculture said China has banned poultry products from a plant in Fort Smith.

Update: OK Foods’ CEO says the ban came as the result of a reporting error by the state Department of Health.

The USDA said China enacted the ban on the OK Foods plant effective Sept. 13 because of a number of workers testing positive for the COVID-19 virus. OK Foods is a subsidiary of Bachoco of Mexico.

In June, China banned imports from a Tyson Foods Inc. plant in Springdale.

There have been 217 positive results among employees at the OK Foods’ plant in Fort Smith, according to the Arkansas Department of Health. When the Tyson Foods plant was banned, Gov. Asa Hutchinson said the move was “very troubling”; health officials have said there is no evidence of the virus being transmitted through food products.