DeLauro: Inconsistent Policy Allows Poultry Imports from China

DeLauro: Inconsistent Policy Allows Poultry Imports from China

- Administration ignores U.S. recalls of undercooked meat and fast-tracks China rule -

Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (Conn.-3) today questioned Administration policy that led to yesterday's announcement that the U.S. would soon allow imports of processed poultry and poultry products from the People's Republic of China. The Administration claims these products will be safe because they will be fully processed and cooked, destroying any pathogens that may be present. Yet hours after the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced it would allow the imports from China, here at home a Tennessee firm announced the recall of 20,610 pounds of breaded chicken due to possible undercooking.

"If undercooking can occur at a U.S. plant, where there are daily inspections, think of how easy it will be for undercooking or other problems to occur in a Chinese plant, which is inspected by US inspectors only once per year," said DeLauro. "The public health risk increases exponentially when a product from China is undercooked because the threat of avian flu is so high in that country. Despite warnings from FSIS's own inspectors of the safety of Chinese plants, and the possibility that we could bring a pandemic into our borders, this rule was fast-tracked and imports will soon be coming into our country.

"The reasoning is completely inconsistent. This policy should not move forward."

http://www.house.gov/delauro/press/2006/April/inconsistent_poultry_imports_4_21_06.html