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Big agribusiness is pressuring President Obama to lift an import ban on processed poultry from China.

Now is not the time to expand the list of Chinese food products allowed into the United States. In addition to ongoing problems with China's food safety standards and inspection system, U.S. inspectors have found filthy and unsanitary conditions in Chinese poultry processing facilities. The recurring reports of avian flu outbreaks offer another reason to be cautious about poultry.

Ask President Obama and Secretary Vilsack to protect American consumers by maintaining the ban on Chinese chicken.

Please edit the letter below.

Subject:

Your Letter:

As one of more than 100,000 activists of Food & Water Watch, I'm writing to ask you to support prohibiting the expenditure of funds that would permit the importation of processed poultry from China in the FY 2010 Agriculture Appropriations bill.

In just the first few months of this year, dozens of products were blocked from coming into the U.S. from China, including fish, cookies, candy, crackers, juice, tea, canned and dried vegetables, and spices.  The reasons for rejection included contamination with melamine or banned chemicals like choramphenicol; pesticide residues and unsafe additives; and conditions inspectors described as "poisonous" and "filthy."

Now is clearly not the time to expand the list of Chinese food products allowed into the United States. In addition to ongoing problems with China's food safety standards and inspection system, U.S. inspectors have found filthy and unsanitary conditions in Chinese poultry processing facilities. The recurring reports of avian flu outbreaks offer another reason to be cautious about poultry.

American consumers want a safe food supply, so until China fixes its broken system, please do not put consumers at risk by allowing imported processed chicken from China.

cc The Honorable Tom Vilsack

Sincerely,

President Barack Obama

Phone:(202) 456-1111

Fax:(202) 456-2461

Tom Vilsack

United States Department of Agriculture

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