If you are keeping an eye on global food news, you might have heard about the impacts of Ractopamine on the import and export trade from the US to Taiwan. Right now, the US is allowed to supply Taiwan with pork but the Taiwanese people are not happy about it. Why, when the US is one of their biggest allies? Ractopamine. Ractopamine is a food additive that is given to pigs shortly before they are slaughtered to increase their growth and lean meat production. The pigs mature in a shorter amount of time and thus require fewer resources meaning, in short, that this additive saves pork suppliers money. However, this benefit comes at a steep cost. Ractopamine has caused more illness in livestock than any other additive used in the US. It has a significant impact on pigs, causing cardiovascular issues as well as musculoskeletal, reproductive and hormonal issues. Additionally, it has been documented to drive up the stress level in animals and cause “downer” syndrome. The drug works by maintaining that high level of stress and inducing rapid muscle production. As one might imagine, this impacts the quality of the meat and even changes the flavor. It is no surprise that these complications often lead to death.
When consumed through meat, ractopamine can cause cardiovascular issues in people, driving up chronic cardiac illnesses, high blood pressure, and heart attack frequency. Additionally, research also suggests that while evidence is limited to suggest that ractopamine causes cancer, there is evidence to suggest that those who have already developed the initial stages of cancer or a small mass might see a measurable increase in cancerous growths due to the consumption of ractopamine. Put simply, though it may not cause cancer directly, it does make cancer a whole lot worse very quickly.
The US has said that there isn’t enough evidence that ractopamine is harmful to human beings to motivate them to ban it here altogether but 160 countries around the world, including Russia, the EU, and China, disagree. Only 25 countries including the US are still allowing ractopamine to be used so freely. It is true that pork is a huge part of the meat industry and that we even treat beef and some poultry with ractopamine as well but considering that the alternative is a safer, better quality product, why might the US continue to use an openly harmful product. It’s killing the pigs and making people sick so there must be another motivation. There might be another explanation but the only one obvious to those taking note of the US’s priorities is money. Ractopamine saves time and time is money. Perhaps, we should let our policy makers know that in this case, we would like to put the health of the American people first.
As for what to do with this knowledge as a consumer, consider switching to either an organic pork product for your cooking at home or supporting a supplier that has decided to removed ractopamine entirely from its supply line. The US is already feeling the pressure of other countries disallowing the use of ractopamine treated pork. Let’s increase that pressure and let the industry know that we don’t want this harmful chemical here at home either. As always, shop locally when you can and vote with your dollar either way!
Check out our feature In the News Article about Ractopamine Here.
Resources: