DeLauro Statement on Sale of Smithfield Foods to Chinese Company

Shuanghui International Foods Has History of Tainted Food NEW HAVEN, CT—Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-3) released the following statement today on the announcement Shuanghui International agreed to buy Smithfield Foods. DeLauro is a longtime advocate for ensuring America’s food supply is safe for consumers and is a former Chairwoman of the subcommittee responsible for funding the Agriculture Department. “This potential merger raises real food safety concerns that should alarm consumers. We know that Chinese food products have been a threat to public health and that Shuanghui was found to have produced and sold tainted pork. This merger may only make it more difficult to protect the food supply. I have deep doubts about whether this merger best serves American consumers and urge federal regulators to put their concerns first. I will be in touch with regulators throughout this process to ensure the public health and safety of the American public is safeguarded.”