DeLauro Introduces Safe Chicken and Meat for Children Act of 2015

Would Protect Our Children from Unsafe Food from China

WASHINGTON, DC –Congresswomen Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) introduced the Safe Chicken and Meat for Children Act of 2015 today. This bipartisan bill bans Chinese produced or processed meat and chicken from the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP), Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). Congressman Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE) is the lead Republican sponsor.

In 2013, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) allowed the export of processed poultry products to the United States from China. This could result in American consumers, including children and older adults participating in federal nutrition programs, eating processed poultry products from China, and possibly poultry raised in China.

“I introduced this bipartisan legislation to prevent Chinese meat and chicken from being used in federal nutrition programs given China’s atrocious history of poorly-enforced food safety laws. It is a moral imperative to ensure the food we serve America’s children is safe. There is no better place to start than in their schools,” said DeLauro.

Last year, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) determined thousands of pets in the United States were made sick or died from eating pet treats containing contaminated chicken imported from China. Poultry from China has been found laced with illegal antibiotics. Almost half of Chinese food-processing plants fail to meet internationally acceptable standards, according to a recent Asia Inspection study.

“Consumers have concerns about food safety practices in China,” said Chris Waldrop, Director of the Food Policy Institute at Consumer Federation of America. “This bill would ensure that our most vulnerable consumers – children and older adults – are protected.”

"All children should have access to safe and healthy food. China has a notoriously weak food safety system. That we continue to import food from that country is very problematic. We applaud these legislators for making food safety in school lunches a top priority,” said Food & Water Watch Executive Director Wenonah Hauter.

The bill’s supporters also include Center for Foodborne Illness Research & Prevention and the National Farmers Union.


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