Senator Rick Scott has expressed concerns about the safety and origin of Chinese garlic, warning about potential health risks and human rights abuses associated with its production.
He has called for an investigation into the import of Chinese garlic under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, emphasizing the importance of ensuring the safety and integrity of the food supply.
Scott’s concerns stem from reports of unsanitary growing conditions, including the use of human waste and slave labor. (Trending: Trump Releases Must-See Christmas Message)
Sen. Scott’s office wrote in a statement, “following reports that the garlic is being grown in human sewage, then bleached and harvested in abhorrent conditions often with slave labor.”
Sen. Scott claimed “imports from Communist China of all grades of garlic, whole or separated into constituent cloves, whether or not peeled, chilled, fresh, frozen, provisionally preserved or packed in water or other neutral substance, and the threat they pose to U.S. national security.”
“Food safety and security is an existential emergency that poses grave threats to our national security, public health, and economic prosperity,” continued Scott.
Sen. Scott wrote, “beyond these trade enforcement concerns, there is a severe public health concern over the quality and safety of garlic grown in foreign countries — most notably, garlic grown in Communist China.”
“Communist China’s growth practices are well-documented in the public domain, from cooking blogs and home magazines to YouTube videos and documentaries,” continued the Republican lawmaker.
“These practices include such offenses as fertilizing garlic with human feces and forms of sewage, growing garlic in sewage, bleaching garlic to make it appear whiter and cleaner to the eye after its growth in unsanitary conditions, and stripping the root end from garlic before it enters U.S. markets as to make it appear more appealing and also to comply with U.S. laws regarding prevention of soil-borne diseases and contaminants,” added Scott.
He urges consumers to be vigilant, suggesting that Chinese garlic may be bleached and have its roots removed, and advocates for greater scrutiny of food labeling.
This has sparked controversy, but Scott remains firm in his stance, highlighting the need for proactive measures to address food safety and human rights issues.
“As garlic is a widely-used product for cooking and food preparation, the integrity and safety of this product are paramount to the entire population,” wrote Scott in his letter to the Biden Administration
“To maintain a strong and stable economy, domestic tranquility, a productive society, public health and our national security, we must assure quality and confidence in our food supply to all Americans and their families,” continued Scott.
“If our food is not safe to eat, we cannot expect our men and women in uniform to be equipped and able to do their jobs to defend our nation and her interests,” explained Scott.
“Doctors, police officers, nurses, teachers, firefighters, military service members, retirement communities, moms and dads, and every American expects our government can and does make sure our food is safe to eat.”
“We must ensure that to be the case and actively protect our market from harmful products and bad actors,” added Scott.
“According to the law, once a Section 232 investigation is requested in writing, Commerce must ‘immediately initiate an appropriate investigation to determine the effects on the national security’ of the subject imports,” wrote Scott in his letter.
“After consulting with the Secretary of Defense, other ‘appropriate officers of the United States,’ and the public, if appropriate, Commerce has 270 days from the initiation date to prepare a report advising the president whether the targeted product is being imported ‘in certain quantities or under such circumstances’ to impair U.S. national security and to provide recommendations for action or inaction based on the findings,” according to Scott’s letter.
“This Department of Commerce has conducted dozens of 232 investigations,” said Scott.
“I believe food safety issues, especially on the matter of Communist Chinese garlic, grown and produced with sewage and other unsanitary practices, to be worthy of an investigation,” concluded the lawmaker.
#GTCartoon: #US paranoia about Chinese garlic. @_ValiantPanda_ pic.twitter.com/rewWFn6loM
— Global Times (@globaltimesnews) December 10, 2023
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