Russia has banned the imports of beef produced in the state of Kansas, after a recall by Tyson Fresh Meats in Emporia, Kan., of 131,300 pounds of ground beef that was potentially contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, reports The Ohio Farmer.

The Russian news agency Interfax has reported that Gennady Onishchenko, the head of Russian consumer watchdog Rospotrebnadzor, said, "In order to prevent the product coming to the Russian market, we introduced a ban."

"We've seen the media reports regarding statements from Russia, but we have not received confirmation, so we're not in a position to comment at this time," said Tyson spokesman Worth Sparkman.

Source: The Ohio Farmer