The recent scapegoating of British Chinese for the foot-and-mouth crisis has galvanised the full spectrum of the community into a national march on MAFF and Downing Street this Sunday.

On 27 March MAFF alleged that the source of Foot and Mouth outbreak was likely to be illegally smuggled meat supplied to a Chinese restaurant. Aided by irresponsible reporting, this scare story spread quickly and within a week, trade dropped by 40% in Chinese establishments throughout the country. The end result of the MAFF allegation and biased reporting is the suffering and disadvantage of ethnic minority communities like the Chinese.

• MAFF highlighted the tenuous 'Chinese connection' in spite of knowing other possible sources of the outbreak.

• MAFF were aware of the danger of an outbreak in June last year but took no steps to inform the food industry or set up preventative measures.

• MAFF failed to install a computer program it owns that could have tracked the outbreak and prevented the spread.

• Much of the media coverage has been biased and based on scare-mongering rather than solid evidence.

• Fact: Chinese restaurants and takeaways do not use imported meat from the Far East. It is cheaper for them to buy from British butchers.

• Fact: The illegal packets of meat to which the authorities are referring are a dried meat jerky snack used exclusively for personal consumption and not for the catering trade. You are as likely to find meat jerky in a Chinese restaurant as you are Pepperami sticks at The Ivy.

STOP SCAPEGOATING THE CHINESE FOR FOOT AND MOUTH
National demonstration Sunday 8 April
Assemble 1.30pm Gerrard Street,
London W1

2pm march to MAFF, Smith Square SW1, via Downing Street.

Speakers include: Yasmin Alibhai-Brown; Weyman Bennett, Socialist Alliance; Jabez Lam; Thomas Chan.

Chinese restaurants will be closing in joint protest 2-4pm

Press officer Anna Chen - 07961 144905