Hormel Foods announced it will no longer accept hogs that have been fed or exposed to ractopamine after April 1 as the company seeks to expand its ability to sell products to China.
"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 said.
Hormel uses third-party suppliers for its pork and does not have slaughter operations.
Tyson Foods and JBS USA announced last year they would eliminate ractopamine from their supply chains for the same reason – they sought to boost exports to China which prevents the use of ractopamine for livestock.
The move comes even as the phase-one trade agreement between the U.S. and China calls for China to undergo a risk assessment of ractopamine in cattle and hogs “as soon as possible without undue delay.” The risk assessment is to be done in consultation with the U.S. and “verifiable data and the approved conditions of ractopamine use in the United States.”
Welcome
