As imported Chinese wheat gluten takes the blame for the recent deaths of dozens of American pets, new concerns have risen over the safety of Asian-grown foods imported to the United States for human consumption.

The death of pets is linked to Chinese wheat gluten containing a toxic chemical, aminopterin, commonly used in China as rat poison.

However, little, if any, government regulation enables Asian importers to ship food products, such as catfish or wheat, with potentially dangerous additives into the U.S.

"The issue certainly is one of integrity of the product we feed our children," said Dick Stevens, president of Consolidated Catfish Companies, a catfish processor based in Isola, Miss. "This pet food incident has shined a light on an issue that already exists, and that is the fact that there are many contaminated products coming from China, not just wheat."

Roger Barlow, executive vice president of Catfish Farmers of America, referred to federal reports over the last several months that show many shipments of catfish-like products from China and Vietnam had been refused entry into the U.S. because of contaminants found in the fish.

"During the twelve months ending January 2007," said Barlow, "forty-nine shipments of Chinese farmed catfish were refused by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, because they contained banned and potentially dangerous chemicals and antibiotics. In January 2007 alone, 10 shipments were refused entry, up from 2 refusals in January 2006."

"Frankly, I was not surprised to read about the wheat gluten poisoning incident," Barlow stated. "We know that Chinese fish farmers routinely use a variety of chemicals and antibiotics banned in the U.S. for use in or around human food, and that residues of these substances remain in the fish after harvest."

Imports of Chinese catfish are increasing, with overall Asian import numbers for February 2007 up some 456 percent, and those from China up 1055 percent. "The concern now is that tainted imported catfish may be reaching consumers' dinner tables," Barlow added.

According to a recent report by the Associated Press, the FDA has sharply reduced its inspections of foreign food and today physically examines only 1.3 percent of all food imported into the United States.

Federal legislation enacted in 2002 established Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) requiring grocery stores to list where products are grown. However, no such requirement exists for the restaurant industry, which accounts for more than 70-percent of catfish consumption -- both imported and domestic.