Correspondence
Email sent to Ramona Petersen, VP of Human Resources at Wismettac Asian Foods.
The email said: "I’m contacting you in light of our latest investigation which concerns the use of forced labor in China’s food processing industry, and a link we’ve discovered between a company engaged in such practices and your supply chain.
Wismettac Asian Foods Inc.’s supplier Rizhao Rirong Aquatic Products And Foods Co. Ltd. is a Rongsense Group company. The Rongsense Group has received multiple groups of persons from the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of the People’s Republic of China under the state-imposed labor transfer program.
The United Nations, human rights organizations and academic experts agree that since 2018, the Chinese government has systematically subjected Xinjiang’s predominantly Muslim ethnic minorities to forced labor across the country via state-sanctioned employment schemes which use coercive methods in worker enrollment and obstruct freedom to leave employment. The U.S. has prohibited the importation of goods produced from state-imposed forced labor.
Does Wismettac Asian Foods Inc. have any comment or statement to make in light of the above information? Please respond to this email by close of business June 16, 2023."
Ramona Petersen replied: "Thank you for bringing this to my attention. Unfortunately, I am not in a position to respond but I will forward to our highest leaders."
The Outlaw Ocean Project emailed: "Thank you for your response to Ian's recent email and for highlighting it with senior management. Does Wismettac have any comment"