Posted on 04/19/2007 6:01:19 AM PDT by Milwaukee_Guy
In the meeting, Durbin and DeLauro learned that the Chinese Government has blocked requests from the FDA to send personnel to China to inspect the facilities suspected of producing the contaminated products. The FDA first contacted the Chinese Government on April 4, 2007, but have not been granted permission to send food inspectors into the country. In response, Durbin and DeLauro sent a letter to the Chinese Ambassador to the United States, Zhou Wenzong, urging the Chinese Government to issue visas to U.S. food inspectors as quickly as possible.
"It is unacceptable that the Chinese government is blocking our food safety inspectors from entering their country and examining facilities that are suspected of providing contaminated pet food to American consumers," said Durbin. "We have asked for two things in our letter today -- that the Chinese government allow our inspectors in and that the Chinese ambassador to the United States meet with Congresswoman DeLauro and me to discuss the larger issue of contaminated food being sent to the U.S. These are reasonable requests and we hope that we can find a level of cooperation with the Chinese."
"At time when China is exporting more foods into the U.S., the Chinese are refusing to allow our inspectors in to the country to investigate the source of the pet food contamination. The FDA needs to be allowed to investigate this so we can better protect our pets and identify the source of the source of the problem. While we have a significant trade relationship with the Chinese, the investigation of the contaminated product comes first," said DeLauro.
(Excerpt) Read more at durbin.senate.gov ...
First it was wheat gluten and now it is rice protein. Four and a half weeks into the largest pet food recall in history, no answers, no solutions and no way to know how far this contamination has spread into both animal and human food supplies.
Why on earth are we importing food from China?
Ban all imports of food products from China and see how long it takes for them to cry, “Uncrel”
And never a peep about it.
Well, then, the US should block all shipments of any foodstuffs from China.
Reery...
Actually, I have no problem with this....
As long as our officials reciprocally block the import of all Chinese sourced foods and food components.
Not to worry. I’m sure our government will take swift action. Perhaps a harshly worded letter. Or maybe just a finger wag.
Nice attitude China. We won’t have to send inspectors. I suspect the American consumer is going to do a minor wake up and not buy any food products from china. Throw in a few articles about dangerous toys and China will have a trade adjustment.
simple.....BAN IMPORTATION of foodstuffs from them.
Gluten is fine for the majority of the population, however, it is estimated to cause chronic disease and early death in about 3,000,000 Americans based on universal blood testing in other nations. The sad part is the diagnosis rate is about 2.5% of what we expect the rate of gluten intolerance is.
I’m not sure if I’m unlucky to not be able to eat any bread or processed foods, or if I’m lucky to be one of the few who is aware of it.
A Chinese screwdriver is one thing.
Chinese produced food is entirely something else.
No thanks.
I don’t ever want to fly on a Chinese airplane either...
I can assure you on that account I am in no danger. :)
Good time to put pressure on the Big Box Stores.
Actually we are our own worst enemy.
We demand the cheap stuff and we get it.
We elect the government we have.
What is rice protein used in?
The simple soultion is to ban imports until they allow inspections. Anyone awake this morning in the White House ? Hello ?
Supplier was identified as San Francisco-based Wilbur-Ellis. CEO John Thacher said “his company sold the concentrate to five pet-food makers, but that most of it went to two firms.” USA Today says of those five, only Diamond Pet Foods is named. The other major manufacturer tested for melamine and it did not test positive. Diamond Pet Food says they do not use rice protein in their foods.
According to Thacher, the melamine contamination was reported to the FDA a week ago on Sunday.
“The rice protein concentrate was imported from China from Binzhou Futian Biology Technology. Their Web site lists three different types of feed grade rice protein.
Also of note, as you may have read in our comments, Natural Balance has updated their list of ingredients to include rice protein in recent days — raising questions about when the substance was actually added to the product.”
http://www.itchmo.com/read/usa-today-rice-protein-sold-to-4-others_20070417
Also from Itchmo,
I recommend viewing an independent film called China Blue as to why we should boycott Chinese goods (”edible” or non-edible). I caught it on Seattle PBS last week at 2am when I had insomnia.
http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/chinablue/
Very interesting prespective of the origin of the problem.
http://www.dansargis.org/column_files/2007_columns/sarg032907.htm
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