August 16, 2007

China suspends pork shipments from eight US plants

China has suspended pork shipments from eight US production plants this month, the US Department of Agriculture said Wednesday (August 15).

Spokesman Keith Williams said China suspended one US plant on August 7 and the USDA was notified Wednesday of seven more plant suspensions.

China said the suspensions were issued after its inspectors discovered the chemical ractopamine in shipments, a substance China has not yet approved.

US hog producers use ractopamine to help produce lean muscle in hogs instead of fat, according to the National Pork Producers Council.