A coalition of farm and food safety groups wants federal regulators to quash the proposed sale of Smithfield Foods to a Chinese conglomerate in what would be the largest such takeover of a U.S. business.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that the 17 groups are asking the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States to oppose the pork processor's sale to Shuanghui International Holdings Ltd.
The groups include the Missouri Rural Crisis Center, Food & Water Watch, Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement and the Nebraska Farmers Union.
The federal committee reviews sales of American companies to foreign interests.
Coalition members say the deal could weaken domestic food safety, cause economic damage in rural communities and harm national security.
