South Korea halts certain US beef imports over contamination concerns

South Korea has imposed a ban on certain beef imports from the US after finding traces of cattle feed additive zilpaterol in a 22t meat shipment supplied by Swift Beef, a subsidiary of Colorado-based JBS USA.

Zilpaterol is a beta-adrenergic agonist that helps increase the size of cattle and the efficiency of feeding.

Pharmaceutical distributor Merck suspended sales of Zilmax, a zilpaterol-based drug, on 16 August over concerns about its impact on cattle health.

This incident raises concerns that the implicated animal growth enhancer may still exist in the supply chain.

The South Korea Ministry of Food and Drug Safety stated that the problem was identified on 24 September.

Following the probe, all the shipments from the company were immediately suspended and the US authorities were notified to investigate the cause of the contamination, the ministry said.

Reuters quoted food ministry vice spokesman Ahn Man-ho as saying, "As of now, we don’t clearly know when we will complete examining US beef from Swift Beef Co. We plan to inspect all of the meat from the company."

"If we find further zilpaterol in US beef or in any other meat, we will take a similar action," he added.

South Korea imported a total of 75,426t of beef from the US in the first nine months of the year, with 4,697t coming from Swift Beef.

In 2003, the country imposed a ban on US beef after an outbreak of mad-cow disease in the country; however, it resumed purchases in 2008 amid food safety concerns and widespread street protests in Seoul and other cities.

---

Image: The South Korea Ministry of Food and Drug Safety stated that the problem was identified on 24 September. Photo courtesy of Koos Schwaneberg.