China bans imports from U.S. meat, poultry producers

China bans imports from U.S. meat, poultry producers    Chinese authorities have banned meat imports from seven U.S. companies because of alleged issues with contamination, according to the Xinhau news agency.
   Inspections last weekend revealed tainted frozen chicken from Tyson Foods, frozen chicken feet from Sanderson Farms, frozen pork from AJC International, frozen pork ears from Van Luin Foods, frozen pork from Cargill Meat Solutions, frozen chicken feet from Intervision and salted pig intestines from Triumph Foods, Xinhau said. The products are said to contain high levels of bacteria, pesticides, growth hormones or unnecessary additives.
   The Chinese news agency said the first three companies were suspended for 45 days, but the length of suspension was not given for the last four on the list.
   The move is widely perceived as Chinese retaliation for U.S. import bans on several Chinese products after a host of food quality problems cropped up in the past several months involving tainted pet food, toothpaste, dietary supplements and fish. Other products such as faulty tires have also been found to violate U.S. safety standards.
   Chinese officials are upset about the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s ban on farm-raised catfish, shrimp, eel, basa and dace until they are tested for antibiotic drug residue.
   Xinhua quoted the head of China’s General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine calling the FDA action “unacceptable,” and warning that “China, too, detects many substandard food products from the U.S.”