Trade Matters  |  July 08, 2010

Fighting Toxic Trade

In the spring of 2007, over 60 million cans and pouches of pet food imported from China were found to be tainted with a chemical called Melamine. When ingested melamine causes kidney failure in dogs and cats. By the time all of the contaminated pet food was taken off the market, poisoned pet food had killed as many as 1,950 cats and 2,200 dogs.

Soon after, American consumers learned that the toxic import crisis goes far beyond just pet food. In June of 2007 the FDA issued an alert on catfish, shrimp, dace, and eel imported from China. The agency took action on reports that some Chinese food products contained illegal substances, not permitted in seafood in the US. No illnesses were reported as a result of the contaminated foodstuffs.

This seemingly sudden glut of toxic imports is not a fluke; it is the logical outcome of a failed experiment in free trade. Over the past fifteen years, the US has signed a slew of trade deals, which give up our right to set restrictions on the production conditions, quality, or safety of goods imported into our country.

Click Here to learn more about our fight to Stop Toxic Imports