"Would you like some industrial solovant in your ham?"

[DrLeftover]

China's Shuanghui to buy Smithfield Foods for $4.7 billion

(Reuters) - China's Shuanghui International said it would buy Smithfield Foods Inc (SFD.N) for $4.7 billion in cash to help satisfy growing demand for U.S.-made pork in its home market, but the deal may raise concerns in the United States.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/05/29/us-shuanghui-idUSBRE94S0K920130529

 

[Nikki]

I'd like to know how the United States determined that meat from animals fed ractopamine is safe for human consumption. Especially after reading this:

Besides the pharmacology effect, ractopamine may cause intoxication effect, therefore, any consumption by humans of a meat and/or byproducts of animals that consumed ractopamine with feed for growth stimulation, may result in such clinical effects as tachycardia and other heart rate increases, tremor, headache, muscle spasm, high arterial blood pressure.[9] The effect of ractopamine on humans is not entirely known, but consumption of products that contain ractopamine leftovers is not advisable to people with CVD (cardiovasular diseases).

Source

 

[The Dragon Master]

Mmmm lovely. Ham with a hint of industrial solvent. I would hope there's a test in the US food standard agency.

 

[DrLeftover]

I'd like to know how the United States determined that meat from animals fed ractopamine is safe for human consumption. Especially after reading this:

Besides the pharmacology effect, ractopamine may cause intoxication effect, therefore, any consumption by humans of a meat and/or byproducts of animals that consumed ractopamine with feed for growth stimulation, may result in such clinical effects as tachycardia and other heart rate increases, tremor, headache, muscle spasm, high arterial blood pressure.[9] The effect of ractopamine on humans is not entirely known, but consumption of products that contain ractopamine leftovers is not advisable to people with CVD (cardiovasular diseases).

Source

Probably for the same reason there is a fire-proofing chemical in your soda.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/bvo/AN02200

 

[Nikki]

Although the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) originally categorized BVO as "generally recognized as safe," the agency later reversed that decision. Currently, under certain conditions and on an interim basis pending more research, the FDA allows BVO to be used as a food additive.

If they reversed the decision then it should be banned altogether pending further investigation. What are these certain conditions? Nevermind, the public has no right to know that information.

 

[The Dragon Master]

Although the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) originally categorized BVO as "generally recognized as safe," the agency later reversed that decision. Currently, under certain conditions and on an interim basis pending more research, the FDA allows BVO to be used as a food additive.

If they reversed the decision then it should be banned altogether pending further investigation. What are these certain conditions? Nevermind, the public has no right to know that information.

That makes no sense. One might assume that revoking the decision that BVD is safe would mean that it's not safe and shouldn't be allowed in food.