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United States to allow processed poultry from China, despite bird flu fear

WASHINGTON (AP) - Poultry processed in China will be allowed to enter the United States, despite outbreaks of deadly bird flu in China, the U.S. administration said Thursday.

Critics said the imported poultry will put public health at risk. The U.S. Agriculture Department said the meat would be fully cooked and perfectly safe. “It will have been processed,” said Richard Raymond, the department’s undersecretary for food safety.

“Cooking will kill the virus, if there is any virus, in poultry meat.”

The United States does not accept live poultry from countries where the virulent flu strain is present. That policy has not changed.

The poultry would be raised and slaughtered in the United States or other countries from which the United States accepts poultry. It would be fully cooked and packaged or canned in China. Imports will be allowed beginning May 24.

Critics said the United States cannot guarantee Chinese processing facilities will keep Chinese poultry from mixing with U.S. poultry.

[Source]

This is horrible.I am writing my congressman tommorrow in protest.

How can we get this information to be covered in the newspapers?

I agree. Sometimes you have to wonder if the US government is actually looking out for us anymore. Nothing like getting chicken shipped in from a country with multiple bird flu cases, and one that everyone knows is covering up the real number of cases.

Been wondering that myself Robert. As far as the story getting to the news media outlets , Cheryl, I think quite a few of them are picking up on the story now.

My biggest worry is that people are starting to forget about just how bad a problem it can be if and when it comes to the United States. Personally I think it’s more a matter of when not if.

I can’t repeat often enough when it comes to preparing for Bird flu, It’s always better to have something you do not need then it is to need something you do not have.

In the future, our family will not purchase canned poultry, until this decision has been reversed.
We’ve been told it is safe to eat fresh poultry that has this deadly flu virus. We could wear gloves, but leaky packages would contaminate shopping carts and checkout areas, and possibly get on the vegetables and fruit purchased. (What about the babies putting their mouths on the cart handles?).
We will have to be extra careful getting it home to cook properly and de-contaminate all countertops, sinks, etc. Hmmmmmmmm. Not me.

I know I keep hearing about how cooking will kill the virus, my question is who the heck wants to touch infected chicken in to cook it anyway?

Looks like somebody in the Government gained some sense and put the stop to this.

Story here on this site