John,
Ractopamine is banned in nearly 160 countries including China, Russia and the entire European Union. However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) still allows this drug to be used on our livestock.1
And not only is ractopamine allowed, it's likely to be found in most of the pork you may eat.2
There's no reason to risk our health for slightly cheaper meat. Urge the FDA to stop the use of ractopamine in our food.
Ractopamine is a feed additive given to 60 to 80% of pigs in the final weeks before slaughter.3 The drug is used to promote growth, increase muscle mass and improve feed efficiency in livestock.4 But this shortcut may come with serious risks to the livestock and consumers that purchase that meat.
Ractopamine belongs to a class of drugs known as beta-agonists that can negatively affect heart function.5
These effects on animals are alarming and well-documented. Between March 2011 and January 2012 alone, the FDA received more than 160,000 reports of pigs suffering adverse reactions to ractopamine.6 These effects ranged from exhaustion and muscle tremors, to broken limbs, cardiovascular trouble and even increased aggression.7
Tell the FDA to stop the use of this potentially harmful additive in our pork and other meats.
With such clear and widespread side effects in animals, does the FDA have solid evidence that ractopamine is safe for human consumption?
Well ... The FDA approved ractopamine for human consumption with only limited testing. In fact, the primary study cited ran with just six healthy participants, and one of those six soon dropped out due to reported heart palpitations.8, 9
That's it. That's the extent of the test commonly cited as the basis for ractopamine's broad approval for use in our food. A sample size of six people, with one dropping out due to the very side effects the drug is believed to produce.
Most consumers still don't even know ractopamine exists, let alone that they're consuming it. And there's really no way to make an informed choice at the grocery store. The drug isn't labeled, effectively managed or even properly researched.
If 160 countries can ban ractopamine, the U.S. can too. We deserve a food system that puts our health and safety first.
Thank you for taking action to make our food just a bit safer.
Faye Park
President
1. Ann Hess, "Petition urges FDA to reconsider a ban on ractopamine," National Hog Farmer, May 1, 2025.
2. Helena Bottemiller, "Dispute over drug in feed limiting US meat exports," NBC News, January 25, 2012.
3. Helena Bottemiller, "Dispute over drug in feed limiting US meat exports," NBC News, January 25, 2012.
4. Ann Hess, "Petition urges FDA to reconsider a ban on ractopamine," National Hog Farmer, May 1, 2025.
5. Ann Hess, "Petition urges FDA to reconsider a ban on ractopamine," National Hog Farmer, May 1, 2025.
6. Caitlin Rockett, "Oops, we forgot to study that," Boulder Weekly, November 20, 2014.
7. Caitlin Rockett, "Oops, we forgot to study that," Boulder Weekly, November 20, 2014.
8. Linda Larsen, "Advocates Sue FDA Over Ractopamine Used in Food Animals," Food Poisoning Bulletin, November 7, 2014.
9. Shih Hsiu-chuan, "ANALYSIS: Academics lambaste US' ractopamine safety data," Taipei Times, March 4, 2012.
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