U.S. proposal to allow chicken imports from China raises health concerns

International Herald Tribune ^ | May 9, 2007 | Diedtra Henderson

[anonsquared]

WASHINGTON: In China, some farmers try to maximize the output from their small plots by flooding produce with unapproved pesticides, pumping livestock with antibiotics banned in other countries and using human feces as fertilizer to increase soil productivity.

But the questionable practices do not end there: Chicken pens are frequently suspended over ponds where seafood is raised, recycling chicken waste as a food source for seafood, according to a leading food safety expert who served as adviser to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Suspect Chinese agricultural practices could soon affect consumers in the United States. Government authorities are working on a proposal to allow chickens raised, slaughtered, and cooked in China to be sold in the United States, and under current regulations, store labels do not have to indicate the origin of the poultry.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, China's top agricultural export goal is opening the U.S. market to its cooked chickens.

[Calpernia]

Win the 2008 presidential election and I will. :)

[null and void]

I've always been fond of my kidneys, and getting cancer has never really been a career goal.

BAH! With all the nasty chemicals I've worked with, every day is a gift...

[mom4kittys]

A match made in heaven! ~LOL

[null and void]

So we would depend on the Chinese authorities to inspect the product and certify it? Am I the only one who believes that the Chinese government would swear that toxic waste was 'safe and wholesome' if they thought there was an export market for it?

Yes.

Yes.

Take your meds, Citizen...

[null and void]

Promise?

[null and void]

Oh wait! That would make me a politician...

[Calpernia]

I do!

[Wolfie]

But we can’t let prescription drugs in because we can’t verify their safety. Go figure.

[null and void]

Anything anything (I'll give you)

[quietolong]

bump

[N3WBI3]

Because they are free traitors..

[mom4kittys]

Can you tell me how to find local poultry and vegetable farmers around me? I’m in Louisiana.

[Calpernia]

http://www.pickyourown.org/LA.htm
Pick your own

http://louisiana.farmvisit.com/
By County

http://www.ldaf.state.la.us/multimedia/marketing/FMNP/Louisiana-Farmers-Market-Nutrition-Program-Directory-2005.pdf
PDF download of farm directory

http://www.fruitstands.com/states/louisian.htm
FARMERS MARKETS

[Barnacle]

What do I win?

A case of... They haven't come up with a name for it yet. Perhaps you can apply to have it called Anonsquareditis.

[mom4kittys]

Can you suggest a way to locate local poultry farmers that might sell directly to consumers? I’m in Louisiana.

[OB1kNOb]

U.S. proposal to allow chicken imports from China raises health concerns

But, but but....it's all about free trade. It's all about making money. Who cares what's in the product that you buy. Health is only of secondary importance, right? ......./s

[VictoryGal]

Here you go mom4kittys...

http://www.eatwild.com/products/louisiana.html

Found it with a Google query for “poultry farms louisiana”. Looks like eatwild.com is a great resource for all the States.

[mom4kittys]

Thank you so much!

[HamiltonJay]

Yes, but they can produces at 1/10th the cost... so lets lay off all those poor underpaid folks in chicken processing anyway.......

I Would never EVER eat anything I knew was imported from this glorified 3rd world nation... I’ve seen the kitchens in chineses restraunts, that’s disgusting enough.

[abigailsmybaby]

I envy you.