Beijing Blocks JBS U.S. Beef Shipments Over Ractopamine Contamination

Meat processor JBS said on Wednesday that Beijing blocked U.S. beef shipments from its plant in Greeley, Colorado because traces of the feed additive ractopamine were identified in beef destined for China.

Brazil-based JBS, the world’s largest beef producer, said in a statement it is working with U.S. and Chinese authorities to resolve the situation and that no other JBS beef facilities in the U.S. have been impacted.

USDA Notification and Effective Date:

According to a notice published on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) website, the suspension was effective Monday.

Ractopamine is a feed additive used to boost animal weight. Its use has been banned or restricted in at least 160 countries, including the European Union, Russia, and China.

Additional Suspension at Cool Port Oakland:

In addition, China has suspended exports of meat and poultry products coming from Cool Port Oakland in Oakland, California, effective the same date, according to a spokesperson from USDA FSIS.

Cool Port Oakland is a cold storage facility for perishable or sensitive goods like food or medicine. The company did not reply to a request for comment on Wednesday.

Detection and Destruction of Contaminated Beef:

“China customs detected ractopamine in a batch of frozen beef omasum products exported to China from these establishments and destroyed this batch of products by their regulations,” the USDA FSIS spokesperson said in an email statement.

USDA FSIS is conducting an investigation, the spokesperson said.

Lawsuit Against FDA Over Ractopamine:

Earlier this year, major food safety, environmental, and animal rights groups filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, seeking to force it to reconsider approvals of ractopamine, which they say is putting human health at risk and causing stress in farm animals before slaughter.

Analysts said the restrictions sent Chicago Mercantile Exchange cattle futures slumping on Wednesday, with the most-active August live cattle contract posting its biggest percentage drop since May 1.