US-based Hormel Foods is the latest business to banish growth drugs from its pork supply with the Chinese market in mind.
The Spam and Jennie-O Turkey Store maker has said it will no longer take meat that contains the growth drug Ractopamine, which is banned in China.
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Like local peer Tyson Foods and Brazilian meat giant JBS, which have signalled they will make similar moves, Austin, Minnesota-based Hormel is keen to sell more of its products in China, the world’s largest pork consumer, where African swine fever has decimated the domestic hog herd.
In a statement sent to just-food, Hormel said: “We can confirm that we have informed our network of independent farms and suppliers that we will no longer be accepting any supply that have been fed or exposed to Ractopamine as of April 1, 2020.
“We have been actively monitoring the changing global market dynamics for several years and believe this decision will further position us to meet growing international demand.”
Hormel does not slaughter hogs itself but partners with third-party suppliers that process the animals to produce the meat the company needs.
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By GlobalDataRactopamine is used in some countries to raise leaner pigs, but China does not allow its use or tolerate residues in imported meat. The European Union also bans the drug.
News agency Reuters reported that China is expected to buy more US pork after agreeing to significantly increase imports of American farm goods as part of an interim trade deal reached last month with Washington. It pointed out that Beijing said it will grant exemptions on retaliatory tariffs imposed against 696 US goods, including pork, that had hampered American exports.
