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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