Meat packagingChina banned meat exports from a West Coast cold storage facility after traces of the feed additive ractopamine were found in beef shipments. This has caused disruptions in Asian exports of U.S. meat that can be felt as far away as the Midwest. The Cool Port of Oakland handles the transfer of meat from rail to ocean shipping.

The USDA is investigating after China’s customs detected the feed additive ractopamine in a shipment. This substance is banned from frozen beef shipments in more than 150 countries.

Exporters must now utilize other facilities in the Bay Area for meat shipments. Approximately 44% of U.S. beef exports and 21% of pork exports traveled through the Port of Oakland in the first quarter.

Read more on the West Coast meat shipping disruptions here.