July 12, 2011
Australia's additive ban to push pork prices higher
Australian supermarket Coles has recently announced of its ban on the use of the feed additive Paylean in pork production and this decision will mean pork will be more expensive to produce, thereafter, a rise in prices.
The supermarket does not want pork suppliers to use Paylean in pig feed. Paylean promotes lean pork meat.
The President of the Victorian Farmers Federation pork Committee, John Bourke, has stated that savings in pig finishing is what drives using the chemical in pig feed. He said "We get our pigs to market faster and leaner, they use less feed, so it makes us more competitive."
"The consumer, the retailer and all the supply chain has to realise to meet consumer expectations. If there is a cost in it, it needs to be passed along the line. I can see some positives from people who might believe or want pork that's been produced in a particular manner. But at the end of the day all things come at a cost."