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Source: PRESS RELEASE, 6/21/13
Today, Congressman Walter B. Jones (NC-3) petitioned President Barack Obama to stand up for American food consumers by scrupulously reviewing the proposed acquisition of U.S. pork giant, Smithfield Foods, Inc., by China’s Shuanghui International Holdings Limited. If approved by the administration, the transaction would be the largest-ever acquisition of an American corporation by a Chinese company. In a letter cosigned by fellow Republican Congressmen Dennis Ross (FL-15) and Steve Stivers (OH-15), Congressman Jones called on the president to carefully consider the potential national security issues presented by the proposed merger.
Particularly concerning is the possibility for food safety violations committed by Shuanghui in the past to carry over to the United States. Shuanghui has been discovered to process pork containing the harmful chemical clenbuterol and, separately, a phosphorescent bacteria that caused the meat to glow iridescent blue. These practices would pose a national security threat to the United States if they are brought to Smithfield, which controls 26 percent of American pork processing and 15 percent of hog production. In addition, Shuanghui could decide to close Smithfield’s domestic plants in favor of exporting pork from China to the U.S., which would destroy American jobs, damage the economy, and potentially cause food safety standards to suffer.
“This merger involves a Chinese company with a history of egregious food safety violations attempting to take control of the world’s largest pork producer,” said Congressman Jones. “Under those circumstances, it is the president’s responsibility to ensure that the interests of the American people are protected.”
The full text of the letter is available at the link below.
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