China's Milk Scandal Demands FDA's Hyper-Vigilance & USDA Rethink Importing Chinese Chicken

Statement

China's Milk Scandal Demands FDA's Hyper-Vigilance & USDA Rethink Importing Chinese Chicken

Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (CT-3), chairwoman of the Agriculture, Food and Drug Administration Appropriations Subcommittee, issued the following statement about China's growing milk scandal.

"The recent scandal involving contaminated milk products from China clearly demonstrates that significant work remains for China to reform its food safety system. While the FDA has said that no contaminated baby formula has been legally imported into the U.S. from China, it is certainly possible that other dairy products including powdered milk and milk protein products have entered the United States, as they have in Europe.

"Between pet food last year and baby formula this year, it would appear that no food product in China is immune from contamination. If we are to avoid a food-borne illness catastrophe from occurring in the U.S., the FDA must be hyper vigilant about monitoring all imported food products from China. And given the mounting evidence of China's inability to ensure the quality of their food products, the Department of Agriculture must reconsider its plan to allow for the importation of Chinese poultry products into the United States."

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