The telephone game of chicken wings in China

Frankly, I do not understand the actions of the authorities in China and Hong Kong with regard to chicken wings imported from Aurora Alimentos, from Brazil.

Ruiz B 90x90 Headshot
Aurora Alimentos has several products for national consumption and for export. (Benjamin Ruiz)
Aurora Alimentos has several products for national consumption and for export. (Benjamin Ruiz)

Frankly, I do not understand the actions of the authorities in China and Hong Kong with regard to chicken wings imported from Aurora Alimentos, from Brazil.

They first broke out a gale in Shenzhen with the alleged discovery of the SARS-CoV2 virus at shipment, a finding that left serious doubts. It was not known whether it was on the wings themselves, on the packaging, whether they detected the active virus or genetic material of the virus, or whether it was contaminated during transportation or when it arrived at the port. They couldn't even give more information. It looks like we're playing the telephone game.

Meanwhile Aurora, like a gentleman, stopped exports while the situation was being clarified. In addition, the Brazilian Association of Animal Protein (ABPA) got down to work.

Now Hong Kong, however autonomous, decided to suspend imports as well, but it has magically decided to resume them. And all because the analyses they made to Brazilian chicken shipments resulted negative. What is this about? Why didn't they do these tests before? I don't call this prevention.

It seems to me unjustified that, given the global circumstances, such action is taken, when the World Health Organization, the International Poultry Council and other agencies and institutions have reiterated a thousand and one times that the COVID-19 virus is not transmitted through food.

It is unjustified, because decisions like these affect the poultry industry in particular, and the animal protein industry in general, as well as their images. They affect world trade and credibility itself, and discredit scientific authorities. I don't know what their intentions are.

I believe that at the end of the day, we are not so globalized. Everyone does what they want, without conceiving global knowledge and understanding. And I am not even talking about solidarity anymore. Everyone wants to protect only his or her own.

What do you think?

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