Taiwanese authorities discovered two more pork shipments from Australia containing ractopamine, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Tuesday. This brings the total number of affected pork shipments to three. However, officials stressed that the levels of ractopamine in all three batches remain well within legal safety limits.
Food and Drug Administration Director-General Chiang Chih-kang explained that the three shipments all came from the same Australian source. However, each shipment entered Taiwan through different importers. Despite the shared origin, the FDA confirmed that the pork meets Taiwan’s food safety standards.
The key phrase here—ractopamine in pork—continues to raise public concern. Still, the FDA reassured consumers that the levels found in these shipments are far below the maximum allowable limits. Chiang emphasized that the detected residue levels pose no health risk.
Taiwan allows imports of pork containing ractopamine under strict regulations that began on January 1, 2021. The country sets clear limits: 0.01 ppm for muscle and fat, 0.04 ppm for liver and kidney, and 0.01 ppm for other edible parts. These limits apply to products such as pig feet, intestines, skin, and casings.
The FDA’s Pork Dashboard helps the public track inspection results. On April 29, a 22.99-tonne shipment of frozen pig feet tested at 0.001 ppm of ractopamine. The two newest shipments totaled 47.25 tonnes and tested at 0.002 ppm and 0.003 ppm respectively. All results stayed well below the legal threshold.
Chiang pointed out that compared to beef, the issue of ractopamine in pork remains minimal. Taiwan has tested 249,609 beef shipments so far. Out of these, 2,493 contained ractopamine. Only six exceeded legal limits and were returned or destroyed. In contrast, only three pork shipments have tested positive for ractopamine, all within safety limits.
The FDA continues to make food safety a top priority. Chiang promised to uphold high inspection standards. “I want to be the director-general who helps everyone eat with peace of mind,” he said.
The administration publishes all testing data and shares updates through the Pork Dashboard. In addition, it educates the public about food risks and safety measures. Consumers are encouraged to stay informed.
The FDA remains committed to transparency and safety, and will keep monitoring ractopamine in pork to ensure public health.
