AMI: Chinese Meat, Poultry Suspension 'Not Valid'
US - The American Meat Institute is saying that China's suspension of seven U.S. plants from exporting safe and inspected U.S. pork and poultry products to China is not based upon sound science.According to MeatNews, AMI President J. Patrick Boyle says products produced by the plants suspended by China were inspected and passed as wholesome and safe by U.S. Department of Agriculture inspectors
"U.S. food-safety standards are among the most stringent in the world, and our pork and poultry products are recognized for their safety," Boyle says. "These products could be sold in the United States and consumed safely by American consumers, yet China has rejected them."
According to AMI, like all raw agricultural products, raw poultry products can contain low levels of bacteria, including Salmonella. This is normal and is allowed under USDA rules because the products are intended to be cooked. Salmonella would not be permitted on a product that was considered already cooked and ready to eat like a cooked chicken breast, states a news release.