China bans beef exports from JPS plant in US, agency says | cattle

According to information published by the news agency Reuters this Wednesday (29/5), the Chinese government has blocked the export of beef from the JBS factory located in Greeley, Colorado (USA). The suspension would have been due to the identification of traces of the food additive ractopamine in protein destined for the Chinese.

JPS USA told the agency it was working with U.S. and Chinese authorities to resolve the situation, and that no other JPS beef facilities in the U.S. were affected.

The suspension took effect Monday, according to the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service.

In addition, China blocked the entry of meat and poultry products from Cool Port Oakland, California (USA), starting on the same date, according to the USDA website.

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

According to Reuters, earlier this year, major food safety, environmental and animal rights groups filed a lawsuit against a US government agency seeking to force it to review the approval of ractopamine, which endangers human health and causes depression. Farm animals before slaughter.