DeLauro Slams USDA’s Plans for Chinese Chicken Imports

WASHINGTON, DC (June 16, 2017) — Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) today released the following statement regarding the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) plans to allow the importation of chicken raised and slaughtered in China. This is an expansion of last month's announcement allowing China to ship processed chicken to the United States.

"Plain and simple, President Trump and the officials at USDA are prioritizing trade over the health and safety of American families. The decision to allow China to export chicken to the United States is a slap in the face to American consumers and threatens our food supply.

"How can the USDA tell American families that China's food safety system is equal to the United States when China has repeatedly faced serious challenges with weak enforcement of food safety laws and regulations—including problems specifically related to poultry products? China is also in the midst of a devastating and deadly bird flu outbreak that has claimed the lives of more than 260 people and hundreds of thousands of birds.

"In the coming months, I will reintroduce the Safe Chicken and Meat for Children Act, a bipartisan bill that will prevent Chinese meat and chicken from being used in federal nutrition programs. Given China's atrocious food safety history, it is a moral imperative to ensure that the food we serve our children and seniors is safe."

DeLauro has long fought against Chinese chicken and the importation of potentially unsafe food products to the United States. DeLauro successfully included language in the FY 2017 omnibus spending bill that prevents Chinese chicken from ending up in the National School Lunch Program.

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