Complaints against two pig farms

CHACHOENGSAO: -- Provincial livestock officials in Thailand's eastern province of Chachoengsao have complained to police about two local pig farms feeding their pigs with a dangerous chemical prohibited by the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry.

The two farms' businesses were temporarily suspended by livestock officials after a random test found high levels of 'ractopamine' a chemical in the beta-agonist group in their animal feed and their pig’s urine.

The provincial livestock chief filed complaints against the two farm owners at a local police station and ordered them not to move any of their 600 pigs.

Officials will regularly check the level of the chemical in the pigs, which should all be clean within a month if they are not fed any more of the chemical.

The chemical has been widely used by local pig farmers because it gives the pork a nice red meat colour which is attractive to consumers.

The government has forbidden the use of this chemical, as it affects the human heart rate and could cause a heart attack in patients with existing coronary problems.

The chemical cannot be destroyed by high heat during cooking.

If a human regularly consumes it, it substantially increases the risk of heart attacks, the provincial health chief, Dr. Watana Kanchanakamol.

--TNA 2005-03-24

Why can't people accept food that is its natural colour? This is a problem worldwide - there was a recent scare in UK with many processed foods being taken off the shelves due to some cancer causing chemical to spice up the colour. Red pork doesn't look right anyway.

The chemical has been widely used by local pig farmers because it gives the pork a nice red meat colour which is attractive to consumers.

And here I thought that pork was supposed to be the other white meat.

Kinda' makes me what to go vegie.