China recently implemented an export ban on US pork from six processing plants and six cold storage facilities over the use of ractopamine, a feed additive. China requires third-party verification that US pork products are ractopamine-free.
"We’re confident about the safety and quality of our pork and will work with the USDA to try to resolve China’s concerns," the company said in a statement. "In the meantime, we’ll find other markets for our products."
The US Department of Agriculture announced the ban and published a list of companies affected by the action. The list includes:
Quality Pork Processors, Inc., Austin, Minn.; Cloverleaf Cold Storage of Fairmont, Fairmont, Minn.; Frozen Assets Cold Storage, Chicago; Triumph Foods, St. Joseph, Mo.; Nor-Am Cold Storage, Inc., St. Joseph, Mo.; Millard Refrigerated Services, Edwardsville, Kan.; Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc. facilities in Perry, Iowa and Storm Lake, Iowa; and Tyson Fresh Meats in Logansport, Ind.; Hanson Cold Storage Co., Logansport, Ind.; Hormel Foods Corp., Fremont, Neb.; and Americold Logistics LLC, Fremont, Neb.
China is the United States' third-largest market for pork exports. In 2013, the US exported to China/Hong Kong 417,306 metric tons of pork, including variety meat, with a value of $903 million, according to the US Meat Export Federation.
