Posted on 07/10/2013 8:41:01 PM PDT by TexGrill
RICHMOND, Va. – The head of Smithfield Foods Inc. is trying to ease concerns that the proposed takeover of the world's largest pork producer by a Chinese company would pose risks to the U.S. food supply.
CEO Larry Pope testified Wednesday at a Senate Agriculture Committee hearing on the pending deal struck in May with Shuanghui International, China's largest meat producer. The plan, which is subject to federal and shareholder approvals, is expected to close later this year. It would be the largest takeover of a U.S. company by a Chinese firm, valued at about $7.1 billion including debt.
Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., said the proposed purchase of the Smithfield, Va.-based company raises many questions, including the impact on food safety and security. She also said the precedent-setting transaction prompts reservations about the government review process of foreign acquisitions of U.S. companies.
"Smithfield might be the first acquisition of a major food and agricultural company, but I doubt it will be the last," said Stabenow.
She asked the Treasury Department to include both the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration in the government's review of the sale.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Do they get Paula Dean too
I love Chinese food.
Never thought the communists would be serving my family Virginia ham.
Bought my last Smithfield product.
The Chinese love to eat pork. You can eat pork and drink beer at Chinese Muslim food restarants in Beijing too.
The Appetite of Tyranny is never far removed from the Tyranny of the Appetite.
They’ll send Paula Dean to the White House for a beer summit with the Black Panthers.
I was just thinking, maybe she got out just in time :-)
Smithfield produces various meat products under several different labels, so if you really mean to avoid their products, you’ll need to learn what all of them are....such as Ball Park Hotdogs.
I’m not concerned; I’m not buying their products anymore. No problem.
likewise -
prefer local hots - new york has about 4 prominent brands by region
I’d much rather but “Amish” and locally made bacon from the little market down the street. It’s not much more than Smithfield and it’s oh, so much tastier. Smithfield can go to he, uh, china.
We can boycott all we want. The big problem is China will import thousands of chinamen to work the jobs Americans use to earn a living on.
Thanks for the tip, Tuck. I read labels. Of course, there's always the chance that Smithfield does not appear on the label either as producer nor distributor. What can I do? Shrug. Those Smithfield products I recognize, I'll not buy.
Ball Park Hotdogs? Too much salt/sodium, Don't buy them.
Maybe Smithfield sells a lot of mystery meat under national/regional grocer in-house brands. Nothing I can do about that.
Thanks.
R.
It took a minute or two, but here’s the link to a list of the various Smithfield brands.
http://www.smithfieldfoods.com/our-brands/
FYI.....It was reported today that the whole salt/sodium avoidance brouhaha is null and void. If anything, added salt is beneficial.....now.
Good to know. Thanks.
In all the Vietnam mess halls were salt tablet dispensers. We were encouraged to take one with our meals.
BUT, having survived Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, one of the cancers listed no questions asked for Agent Orange compensation, for which I have never applied, when my body and extremities, talk about big balls, bloated up, AF oncologists at Wilford Hall Medical Center restricted me to a no salt diet . . . and saved my life.
Got to where when my wife wheeled me into the hospital for chemo . . . I could smell salt when she wheeled me pass the cookie and popcorn.
Took what it took.
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