Food from China Poses ‘Serious Issues,’ U.S. Lawmaker Says

Food imported from China has “serious issues” and more must be done by the Food and Drug Administration and other government agencies to prevent dangerous contaminated products from entering the United States, according to one U.S. lawmaker.

Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), who heads a powerful subcommittee which oversees the FDA and the U.S. Agriculture Department, said “very critical food-safety issues in China” need to be addressed to better protect American consumers. DeLauro’s comments came during a Food and Agriculture Summit on March 18, 2009, sponsored by Reuters.

Recent scandals involving the industrial solvent melamine being found in Chinese brands of infant milk, teas, and other food items are just the latest in a string of problems associated with food, drugs, and toys, and other items produced in the country, an emerging financial superpower.

Contaminated Drugs and Other Scandals

In 2008, contaminated heparin, a common blood thinner made by pharmaceutical company Baxter in China, was blamed for dozens of patient injuries and deaths. The drug was later found to contain a counterfeit active ingredient which caused severe allergic reactions in people given the drug to prevent blood clotting.

On a nearly daily basis, children’s clothing and toys are recalled by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission due to concerns about excessive levels of lead in the products.

To better protect against contaminated food making its way onto store shelves in the United States, DeLauro said this country has to ensure that China’s food safety standards are at least equal to those in the U.S. Any food produced in China at lower standards should be barred from entering the U.S., according to DeLauro.

China Challenges Limits on Poultry Imports

China recently complained that a U.S. law blocking imports of poultry products from China is an unfair restraint on international trade. Chinese officials lodged a complaint with the World Trade Organization about the restriction, but DeLauro’s committee, which imposed the new rule, said the U.S. needs assurances that poultry products from Chinese plants are safe before the imports are allowed.

“I continue to believe that trade should not trump public health and I will work with the industry, I will work with the administration to find a resolution” to the poultry dispute, DeLauro said.

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