Ractopamine RIFT

摘要

Many American consumers love lean meat. The drug ractopamine hydrochloride added to livestock feed is shown to efficiently grow lean muscle in beef, pork and turkey. Yet, the feed additive has been a point of contention for years. Trade organizations for the meat industry contend the drug is proven scientifically to safely promote growth, while animal welfare groups argue the drug is harmful to both animals and humans. The arguments for and against the use of ractopamine boil down to who is paying to import US meat - primarily pork - abroad. Major trading partners like China and the European Union (EU) continue to resist imports of pork treated with ractopamine due to the potential risks to human health.