French firm Sodexho caters for the US Marines

The firm in question, Sodexho, has a $881m contract to feed the Marines.

"My colleagues and I abhor the idea of continuing to pour American dollars into a French based firm when those dollars could be feeding our wartime economy," wrote Representative Jack Kingston, a Georgia Republican.

Mr Kingston wanted the contract to be terminated because that would send "a tangible signal to the French Government that there are economic consequences associated with their international policies".

Mr Kingston said Sodexho, the American subsidiary of France's Sodexho Alliance, had recently signed an eight-year contract with the Marines.

The congressman said he was trying to get more signatures before sending the letter to Mr Rumsfeld.

Good food

A spokeswoman for the French caterer said eliminating Sodexho from the Marine Corps would not lead to a policy shift in the French Government.

We like to put stuff on their plate. Not issues though, just good food Sodexho spokeswoman

"The Marine Corps has got a lot on its plate right now. They have got more important things on their mind," the spokeswoman said.

"We like to put stuff on their plate. Not issues though, just good food," she said.

Sodexho's website is currently running a statement of support for the US Marines.

And Marine Corps spokesman Matthew McLaughlin said the corps "is going to fulfill its obligations of the contract".

Mr Kingston's letter comes amid growing anti-french feeling in the US.

The American public and lawmakers are highly critical of French President Jacques Chirac's defiant stance against the war.

Earlier this month, the US House of Representatives changed the French fries on its cafetaria menu to "freedom fries".