Claire Thompson
In 2013, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) approved four Chinese poultry processors to export a limited amount of processed chicken products from birds raised in the U.S. to China. This sparked concerns about Chinese chicken exports entering the American market, with some social media posts claiming that U.S. companies like Tyson Foods were sending their chicken to China for processing and then selling it back in the U.S. However, Tyson Foods has denied these claims, stating that all the chicken they sell in the U.S. is raised and processed domestically, with no plans to outsource chicken processing to China. While the USDA has since allowed some Chinese processing plants to handle and export cooked products from U.S.-raised poultry, there is no evidence that Tyson Foods engages in this practice.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Tyson Foods sending chicken to China for processing | False |
| Tyson Foods sending chicken from China to the US | False |
| Tyson Foods sending US chicken to China | True |
| Tyson Foods sending chicken to China from all its plants | False |
| Tyson Foods' chicken sent to China for processing and then to the US | False |
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What You'll Learn
- Tyson Foods has denied sending chicken to China for processing and then selling it in the US
- In 2013, four Chinese poultry processors were approved to export poultry products from birds raised in the US
- Tyson Foods received approval to export American poultry to China from all its US processing plants in 2019
- China's food safety system for poultry was designated equivalent to the US in 2019
- In 2017, the first known shipment of cooked chicken from poultry raised in China arrived in the US
Tyson Foods has denied sending chicken to China for processing and then selling it in the US
In 2015, rumours circulated that Tyson Foods was firing 75,000 workers and sending its chicken to China for processing before selling it in the US. However, Tyson Foods has denied these claims, stating that all the chicken it sells in the US is raised and processed in the country. The company has no plans to raise or process chicken in China to be returned to the US.
Despite these assurances, some concerns persist about the potential risks of allowing Chinese poultry processors to handle American chickens. In 2013, the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued a report on China's food safety system for poultry, leading to the approval of four Chinese poultry processors to export processed chicken products to the US. While this report addressed food safety concerns, it did not explicitly address the issue of re-shipping US-raised chickens back to America.
The notion of sending American chicken to China for processing and then reshipping it back to the US is part of a larger business negotiation between the two countries. China has been processing chicken from the US since 2013, when several Chinese chicken processors were approved to export cooked poultry products from birds raised in the US. However, there have been concerns about the lack of country-of-origin labelling on chicken processed in China, making it difficult for consumers to know the source of their chicken.
In 2019, Tyson Foods received approval from US and Chinese authorities to export American poultry to China from all its US processing plants. This approval was part of a trade deal to increase US agricultural exports to China. However, there is no indication that Tyson Foods has used this approval to send chicken to China for processing and then sell it back in the US market.
While the possibility of Tyson Foods sending chicken to China for processing and then selling it in the US cannot be entirely ruled out, the company has strongly denied such practices. The concerns about Tyson Foods' practices highlight the complex nature of the global food trade and the importance of transparency in ensuring safe and trusted food sources for consumers.
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In 2013, four Chinese poultry processors were approved to export poultry products from birds raised in the US
In 2013, the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) approved four Chinese poultry processors to export a limited amount of processed chicken products to the United States. This decision was based on the findings of a USDA audit of China's food processing system, specifically the food safety system governing the processing of chicken for export.
It is important to note that China is not processing imported, US-raised chickens and shipping them back to America. Instead, the approved Chinese poultry processors are allowed to process raw birds from the United States and Canada and export the processed products back to the US. This means that the chicken is raised in the US, sent to China for processing, and then the final product is shipped back to the US.
This decision raised concerns among American consumers due to China's spotty record for product safety, the absence of on-site USDA inspectors, and the lack of country-of-origin labeling requirements for Chinese poultry exports. There were also concerns about China's frequent outbreaks of deadly avian influenza and the potential for delays in reporting such outbreaks.
While there were concerns about Tyson Foods sending chicken to China for processing and then returning it to the US for sale, the company has denied these claims. Tyson Foods has stated that all of the chicken they sell in the US is raised and processed in the country, and they have no plans to change this.
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Tyson Foods received approval to export American poultry to China from all its US processing plants in 2019
In 2019, Tyson Foods received approval from U.S. and Chinese authorities to export American poultry to China from all of its 36 US processing plants. This came after Beijing lifted a nearly five-year ban on imports as Chinese consumers sought alternatives to pork due to a deadly hog disease that had killed millions of pigs and raised meat prices.
Tyson Foods' chief supply chain officer for poultry, Bernie Adcock, commented that there was an "extreme amount of interest" from multiple buyers in China. Tyson Foods expects to begin taking orders early next year.
It is important to note that Tyson Foods does not process chicken in China to be returned to the US. All of the chicken Tyson Foods sells in the US is raised and processed in the country. However, there have been concerns and rumours circulating since 2013 about US chicken being sent to China for processing and then shipped back to the US. This was due to the USDA's approval of four Chinese poultry processors to export processed chicken products from birds raised in the US.
In 2019, the USDA found that China's poultry laws and regulations were equivalent to the Poultry Products Inspection Act and the US food safety system for poultry. As a result, China was permitted to export processed chicken products from birds slaughtered and processed in certified Chinese establishments. However, it is unclear how much, if any, of the chicken exported to the US in 2021 was from birds raised in the US and sent to China for processing.
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China's food safety system for poultry was designated equivalent to the US in 2019
Rumours have circulated that Tyson Foods sends chicken to China for processing and then back to the US for sale. However, Tyson Foods has denied these claims, stating that all the chicken they sell in the US is raised and processed in the US.
In 2013, the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued a report on China's food processing system. This report, along with China's poultry laws, regulations, and inspection system, led the FSIS to determine that China's food safety system for poultry was equivalent to that of the US. As a result, in 2019, the FSIS amended the federal poultry products inspection regulations to add the People's Republic of China (PRC) as eligible to export poultry products to the US.
The FSIS concluded that the PRC's poultry inspection system was equivalent to the US inspection system, including the Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA) and the United States' food safety system for poultry. This determination was made through a review of the PRC's poultry laws, regulations, and inspection system. However, some consumer interest groups and individuals raised concerns about the use of banned antibiotics and chemicals, sanitation standards, and proper labelling in PRC poultry products. In response, the FSIS stated that the rule would not adversely affect human health.
While China's food safety system for poultry was deemed equivalent to that of the US in 2019, there are still differences in the national food safety risk assessment systems. For example, Canada employs a Ranked Risk Assessment system, while the US uses advanced iRISK computer software for pesticide residue assessment. China has also implemented Hazards Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) in the manufacturing sector, consistent with practices in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the US. Additionally, China applied for and received a $400 million loan from the World Bank in 2021 to further improve its food safety standards.
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In 2017, the first known shipment of cooked chicken from poultry raised in China arrived in the US
In 2013, the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) released a report announcing that China's food safety inspection system for processed poultry met the United States standard for equivalency. This meant that China was approved to export processed chicken to the United States, with the condition that the chicken must be fully cooked before export. However, there were concerns among American consumers about food safety and the absence of on-site USDA inspectors in China.
While there have been concerns about the safety of poultry processed in China due to its history of avian influenza outbreaks and food safety issues, FSIS has implemented measures to ensure that imported poultry meets US food safety standards. These measures include increased inspection activities for countries new to exporting to the US and requiring a veterinary certification with each shipment to confirm that the chicken was cooked to a minimum internal temperature of 165.2°F.
Tyson Foods, a major US poultry company, has stated that all of the chicken they sell in the US is raised and processed in the country, and they have no plans to raise or process chicken in China for the US market. However, there have been rumours and concerns that Tyson and other US companies are laying off workers and sending chicken to China for processing before reshipping it back to the US. These rumours have been addressed by fact-checking organisations like Snopes, which have found no evidence to support these claims.
The trade of chicken between the US and China is part of a larger negotiation and trade agreement between the two countries. China has long desired access to the US market due to complementary demands for chicken meat, while the US seeks to reopen its market for Chinese beef after the mad cow disease scare in 2003. The US-China Phase One trade agreement includes provisions for the trade of chicken meat, with China retaining the right to audit US meat and poultry facilities and the US evaluating formal requests from China to consider the avian disease status of its regions.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Tyson Foods does not send chicken to China for processing. All the chicken Tyson Foods sells in the U.S. is raised and processed in the U.S.
In 2019, Tyson Foods received approval from U.S. and Chinese authorities to export American poultry to China from all 36 of its U.S. processing plants. However, there is no evidence that Tyson Foods ever intended to process this exported chicken in China and ship it back to the U.S.
No, there is no evidence that Tyson Foods has ever processed chicken in China and shipped it back to the U.S.
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