June 5, 2024

China not accepting beef from JBS USA subsidiary in Colorado, US

China has, as of May 27, ceased accepting exports from the Swift Beef Co. facility in Greeley, Colorado, the United States, according to the US Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).

Swift Beef is a subsidiary of JBS USA.

"The JBS Greeley beef production facility has been temporarily suspended from exporting to China because traces of ractopamine were identified in beef destined for China," a JBS spokesperson told MEAT+POULTRY. "We are working diligently with US and Chinese authorities to resolve the situation as soon as possible. No other US JBS beef facilities have been impacted."

Ractopamine is a feed additive often used to develop leanness and increase animal weights. While acceptable in the United States, ractopamine is banned in at least 160 countries, including China, the European Union, Russia, Canada and Taiwan.

- Meat + Poultry