WASHINGTON, Nov. 10, 2013. The USDA's Food Safety
and Inspection (FSIS) found itself in between a rock and a hard space this
weekend, essentially telling top Democrats Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-NY, and Rep.
Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., that they were wrong.
Both lawmakers issued strongly-worded news releases
Sunday, complaining about USDA approvals of Chinese chicken.
“The latest report like previous reports makes clear
what has long-been evident: USDA, now allowing processed poultry products from
China into the United States, ultimately aims to allow raw poultry slaughtered
in China to be exported to the US," said DeLauro in a statement.
"From chicken filled with illegal drugs, to pet treats filled with
contaminated chicken, to the ongoing bird flu epidemic, China’s atrocious food
safety record, and related concerns in the poultry sector, make abundantly clear
the current course being pursued by USDA jeopardizes the health of American
consumers. As was the case when I banned
the export of poultry from China through legislation, it is clear that Congress
must once again act to reverse the current course.”
But late Sunday, USDA issued a correction.
"USDA has not found China's poultry slaughter
system to be equivalent and therefore poultry slaughtered in China is not
allowed to be imported to the United States. The U.S. food supply is among the
safest in the world, and the Food Safety and Inspection Service is dedicated to
maintaining that status."
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