Hormel Foods to remove ractopamine from hog supply beginning April 1

Hormel Foods announced a plan to eliminate ractopamine from its hog supply starting April 1.

The announcement follows similar decisions by Tyson Foods and JBS USA last year.

The drug, meant to help raise leaner hogs, is banned in China and the European Union.

According to Reuters, the companies want to increase their exports by taking advantage of near record-high prices in China.