Free Republic

International squabbles have stopped a once-mighty chicken foot trade. Why China and America Fight Over Chicken Feet A large amount of ChinaÂ’s imported chicken consists of paws. All photos Kristi AllenAmericans eat a lot of chicken, clocking in at almost 100 pounds per person per year. However, thereÂ’s one part of the bird many overlook: the chewy, clawed feet.Chicken feet are a favorite treat around the world. Korea, the Philippines, Vietnam, and many other countries all have their own classic preparations of chicken feet. If thereÂ’s one place where theyÂ’re most popular, itÂ’s China. Across the country, chicken feet are...

Police in Guangxi have seized a stash of smuggled, decades-old chicken feet, some dating as far back as 1967, which were waiting to be processed, SCMP reports. The chicken feet were part of a 20 tonne stash of meat smuggled from Vietnam, according to police. As well as chicken feet, the unlicensed storage site also contained beef tripe and cartilage. The gang operating the smuggling ring planned to process 46-year-old chicken feet "with bleach and other chemicals" to disguise them as seemingly fresh chicken feet. Each tonne of meat processed this way would net them an estimated 16,000 yuan. The...

Chicken feet are not generally considered as produce nor consumed in Turkey, but rather than throw them away, companies are making money by exporting them to Far Eastern countries. Turkey's exports set a new record last year, rising to a total $105 billion last year, and $17 million of this amount came from chicken feet, mostly exported to China. Chicken feet are considered as waste in Turkey, said the president of the Aegean Livestock Fishery Products Exporters' Association, Sinan Kızıltan. But now chicken farmers have the opportunity to export these products to Far Eastern countries. If chicken feet are considered...

CLEVELAND - Health officials are putting eleven states on the lookout for boneless chicken feet -- an Asian delicacy the government says was illegally smuggled into the country. The government banned imports of birds and poultry products from Asia last year because of bird flu. Officials are visiting hundreds of Asian restaurants and markets in Ohio today to explain the health risks. Chicken feet have already been seized at stores in Cleveland and Columbus. The Agriculture Department says a Connecticut-based importer, Food King, distributed chicken feet to 68 stores in eleven states. The company has cooperated with a voluntary recall....