A statement from Schumer's office said a "maze" of federal agencies – with different regulations, rules and protocols – have proved ineffective at protecting American consumers from dangerous Chinese products including pet food and toothpaste tainted with industrial chemicals.

Last week the agency said it would bar imports of Chinese farmed catfish, shrimp and other seafood, in the latest in a string of alerts over contaminated or defective products from China.

Schumer's office urged the FDA to immediately implement new rules requiring all food, vitamin and cosmetic companies to list the origin of all ingredients that came from outside the US.

Schumer also urged the FDA to stop giving Chinese manufacturers prior notice of inspections and to collect sample products when inspecting foreign facilities.

There is growing frustration in the US congress over record trade deficits with China.

As a result, Schumer and several other members of congress have seized on Chinese import recalls to bolster their case that the trade gap should be used to press China for currency reform.

Schumer was one of a bipartisan group of senators which introduced a bill last month aimed at giving the US treasury department new tools to press China to speed up the revaluation of the yuan.