China Suspends Imports From Major U.S. Meat Processors

Saturday, July 14th 2007, 4:29 pm

By: News On 6

BEIJING (AP) -- Companies in Kansas, Arkansas and Missouri are among seven U.S. companies China has suspended meat imports from in an attempt to turn the tables on American complaints about tainted products from China.

China says the American meat had contaminants including salmonella, feed additives and veterinary drugs.

The U.S. and other countries have cracked down on Chinese products since North American dogs and cats were poisoned by tainted Chinese pet food ingredients. Since then, several Chinese products have been found to be tainted with potentially toxic chemicals.

Among the U.S. meat China is complaining about are frozen pork ribs from Wichita-based Cargill, and frozen pig ears from Kansas City-based Van Luin Foods USA.

China says both products contained the additive, ractopamine.

Imports of frozen poultry products from Arkansas-based Tyson Foods have also been suspended. China's quality inspectors say frozen poultry products from Tyson Foods were found to be contaminated with salmonella; frozen chicken feet from Sanderson Farms were tainted with residue of an anti-parasite drug; and frozen pork ribs from Cargill Meat Solutions Corporation contained a leanness-enhancing feed additive.

Tyson spokeswoman Libby Lawson says the company is investigating the claims made by China and will work with the country and the United States to get the matter resolved. She said Tyson foods has not received any notice from the Chinese government about tainted meat.

A spokesman for Cargill denied China's claims. Officials at Sanderson Farms were not immediately available to comment.