Taiwanese Pig Farmers Protest American Beef Imports

 

Thousands of Taiwanese farmers protest imports of beef with leanness enhancing additive

 

March 8th, thousands of Taiwanese farmers on the streets protested authorities releasing imported beef from America containing a leanness enhancing additive. March 5th, Taiwan’s “Executive Yuan” approved with conditions the opening of imported beef from the United States containing leanness enhancing additives (ractopamine).

[Above] Thousands of Taiwanese pig farmers unhappy with authorities releasing imported beef from America containing a leanness enhancing additive, continuously went on the streets of Taipei to protest.

 

According to reports, on March 5th, Taiwan’s “Executive Yuan” reached a decision on the controversial issue of whether or not American beef containing leanness enhancing additives should be allowed to be imported, conditionally allowing the import of American beef containing ractopamine.

Ractopamine (trade name: Paylean), is a new type of leanness enhancing additive, able to promote the amount of lean meat in animals, reduce the amount of feed required, bring meat products to market earlier, and lower costs. However, when large amounts of meat products containing ractopamine are consumed, it can cause symptoms of poisoning such as nausea, dizziness, muscle spasms, palpitations, increased blood pressure, increase cardiovascular disease, etc.

Ractopamine when compared to other leanness enhancing additives is relatively less toxic and is more quickly metabolized. As such, it is allowed to be added to feed in the United States and a minority of other countries. At present, America and 24 other countries in the world openly allowing Paylean while 160 other countries still prohibit it.

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