Tyson Foods looks for pork markets

Tyson Foods Inc plans to find other export markets for its pork products after a recent delivery to China triggered an export ban of half its US hog slaughterhouses, the company told Reuters Friday.

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced earlier this week that China was barring future pork imports from six US processing plants and six US cold storage facilities over the use of a feed additive called ractopamine.

China requires third-party verification that US pork imports are ractopamine-free.

"We're confident about the safety and quality of our pork and will work with the USDA to try to resolve China's concerns," Tyson spokesman Gary Mickelson said in an e-mail statement. "In the meantime, we'll find other markets for our products."