US pushes China on food safety, a "top concern"

WASHINGTON, May 23 (Reuters) The Bush administration today pressed visiting Chinese officials about food safety, a key issue for U.S.

consumers after a toxic chemical surfaced in imported pet food and sparked worries about livestock feed.

Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt said US officials told a Chinese delegation at high-level talks in the US capital that the safety of food and medicine imports was a ''top concern.'' ''Recent events have forced very clearly the safety of food and medicine,'' Leavitt told reporters in a briefing after a two-day ''strategic economic dialogue'' involving scores of senior officials from both countries.

The safety of food imports from China came under intense scrutiny after melamine, a chemical used in plastics and fertilizers, surfaced in U.S. pet food this year, killing pets and prompting a wave of recalls. Petfood scraps were also used in some livetock rations, briefly interrupting the marketing of some poultry, hogs and fish.

Leavitt and Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach raised the need for better communication with China, firm registration and other steps.

Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns, who also oversees some food safety issues, said the two nations would continue talks on the issue throughout the week.

''The Chinese government clearly understands the world marketplace will swiftly disadvantage any nation or economy or firm that is not able to establish a sense of confidence and reliability,'' Johanns said.

US lawmakers also have said they plan to press the issue with members of the Chinese delegation this week.

Reuters RN DB2304