Food Safety Net Services (FSNS) is certified by the USDA-AMS Laboratory Approval Program for the Export of Meat and Poultry Products.  This includes the analysis of the Beta-Agonist Ractopamine in Animal Muscle and Liver Tissues by LC-MS/MS (Trace Residue Level).  The fully validated FSNS method references USDA CLG-AGON1.10; Screening, Determination and Confirmation of Beta-Agonists by LC/MS/MS.  The highly selective method has precise quantification capabilities for ractopamine determination below the USDA action level of 0.1 ppb to support regulatory and export compliance.

How FSNS can support your needs

Ractopamine testing is performed at the FSNS Corporate Chemistry Laboratory in San Antonio, Texas.

Product Scope Coverage

  • Beef, pork, and turkey
  • Muscle and organ tissues

The FSNS difference! 

  • USDA-AMS Approved Methodology and Lab Quality Procedures
  • ISO 17025:2005 Accredited Lab
  • Trace level detection below the required USDA Action Level of 0.1 parts per billion
  • Rapid Turnaround Time Options Available
  • State of the art LC-MS/MS systems for accurate low-level detection, with ample redundancy
  • Fully validated and robust methodology

We offer competitive pricing, options for rush testing, high-quality ISO 17025 regulated testing, and a team of resources to discuss results and assist you along the way.  FSNS is your trusted partner in food safety and is proud to offer USDA-AMS Approved Ractopamine testing for the industry.  If you have any questions about testing or would like more information, please contact customerservice@fsns.com or call 888-525-9788.

Ractopamine Testing and Analysis

The presence of ractopamine in your processed meat products can affect your business.

While the FDA does not ban this chemical compound, more than 160 countries restrict this feed additive.  These countries prohibit importing foods with ractopamine due to the health risks it may pose to humans.

If your business involves exporting meat products, whether processed or not, you should make sure you know if they contain ractopamine.  LC/MS/MS Ractopamine testing can help you identify if your products have even trace levels of the compound.  Even if you’re a B2B meat supplier, you should consider ractopamine testing if your customer exports their processed meat to ensure compliance.

What is Ractopamine?

Ractopamine is an animal feed additive.  It belongs to a drug classification known as beta-adrenergic receptor agonists.  As a beta-agonist, ractopamine mimics the effects of adrenaline, increasing protein synthesis in mature animals.  Administration of this drug is typically done a few weeks before slaughter.

The significant benefits of using ractopamine are:

  • Increased muscle growth on animals
  • Higher ratio of lean meat to fat
  • Improved feed efficiency

With livestock growing at a faster rate, farmers also spend less on feed.

For food processing businesses, this drastically increases the availability of leaner meat.  As a result, there’s an increased rate of production.

Why Should You Test for Ractopamine?

Many US pork producers have elected to have their products be ractopamine-free even if the U.S. FDA does not restrict its usage.  Also, with the European Union, China, and other countries enforcing a zero-tolerance policy for ractopamine in beef and pork, the export industry needs to comply and impose the same restrictions.

However, complete elimination of the ractopamine compound is not always possible due to situations like cross-contaminations.  The FDA tolerance allows a low level of ractopamine in muscle (50 ppb), however the export level is far lower for many countries (as low as <0.1 ppb).  Your products are considered ractopamine free for export if you stay below the 0.1 ppb limit.

The standard practice is to feed ractopamine to animals for a short time and stop a few days before slaughter to reduce the level in the meat and organs.  Testing should be done to assure the levels in the meat and organs are below FDA or export MRLs (maximum residue level).

Business Implications

Large-scale meat producers and food industry leaders continue to find ways to certify their products meet other nations’ ractopamine-free requirements.  Even though the U.S. FDA approves the use of ractopamine, you need to avoid this feed additive if you want to export your products.

To maintain access to international markets, some U.S. processors even announced that they would only process pigs free of ractopamine.

The Codex Alimentarius Commission set the maximum residue limits (MRLs) for ractopamine at 10 parts per billion (ppb).  Muscle cuts of beef and pork for trade in the international market should not exceed this limit.  As a comparison, FDA set a 30 ppb limit on beef and 50 ppb limit on pork.

For this reason, you can never be sure that the carcass or meat your processing plant receives is free from ractopamine – until you test them.

Health Implications

Ractopamine-fed pigs are safe for human consumption as long as they don’t exceed the MRL set by the U.S. FDA.

Safe concentrations of ractopamine showed no adverse health effects.  However, high levels of consumption may cause cardiovascular risks to humans.  China’s Sichuan Pork Trade Chamber of Commerce reports 1,700 people were poisoned by eating pork with a high concentration of ractopamine.

Ractopamine, however, can have significant health impacts on animals when fed with excess amounts.  Around 80 percent of pigs in the U.S. meat industry consume substantial quantities of ractopamine, which may lead to various health issues.

Pigs fed with high levels of ractopamine can experience any of the following health risks:

  • cardiovascular
  • reproductive
  • musculoskeletal
  • endocrine problems
  • behavioral changes

Incorporating ractopamine testing and analysis for your products helps ensure that they remain at safe levels.  Even if your products are for local consumption only, it is important to ensure your product contains ractopamine levels below the U.S. FDA’s MRL.

What to Look for in a Ractopamine Testing and Analysis Lab

An trusted ractopamine testing lab should be approved by the USDA-AMS Laboratory Approval Program for Export of Meat and Poultry Products.  It should also have the capabilities to perform testing for low level presence in both animal liver and muscle tissues.

Prioritize laboratories with a team of experts that use LC-MS/MS systems to perform tests.  Furthermore, they should have a strong method validation that supports the accuracy and precision of their results.

The laboratory should be able to precisely determine ractopamine levels to at least 0.1 ppb, which is the USDA export action level.

Here’s what you should expect if you choose the right company for your ractopamine testing and analysis:

  • Lab-quality procedures and methodology approved by the USDA-AMS
  • A laboratory accredited for ISO 17025:2005
  • A trace level detection that goes beyond the required USDA export action level
  • Validated for both liver and muscle tissues
  • Rapid turnaround times to meet your needs

Ensure your Meat Products are Safe for Consumption

Proper ractopamine testing, together with other food testing procedures, can help ensure your meat products are safe for human consumption.  Your business will be able to comply with the international regulations, allowing you to expand to larger markets.  FSNS is here to help you with all your testing needs.  Most major businesses in the food industry trust FSNS to perform ractopamine tests on their products.

 

If you have questions about testing or would like additional information, please complete the form below or call 888-525-9788.