Bad Economic Policies -

The U.S. agricultural industry has been dealing with market volatility, increased fertilizer costs, changes in trade policies and agreements, global tariffs with temporary reversals/retaliatory actions, and lowered numbers of exports (i.e.: $16 billion fall for China and $1.3 billion fall for Canada). Fuel costs have continued to rise. On September 7^th, gas prices went higher than $4.00 per gallon and diesel prices were recorded at a national average of $5.85 per gallon. Diesel prices have risen more than 60% since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran in February. As of September 10^th, the price of diesel rose past $6.00 per gallon and up to $9.99 per gallon in parts of California. High gas and diesel prices affect transportation and the supply chain.

Domestic herds’ numbers have fallen to the lowest levels since 1951, with beef production expected to tumble to about 4% this year according to USDA experts, while food prices have continued to rise, with an estimated $6.89 a pound for ground beef as of July.

Additionally, the U.S. no longer benefits from a free market in the food industry. A monopoly or a strict oligopoly exists at the supply chain. This system reigns in the farming and ranching sector, thus driving farmers and ranchers out of business. This consolidation phenomenon also affects the consumers’ food market by making products unaffordable.

Imports of Meat Products and Domestic Processing -

The U.S.-Mexico border was reopened to cattle supply recently. However, livestock imports risk weakening the domestic market stream and ranching investments. Aside from the threat of the New World screwworm (NWS) to livestock, operational issues and market fluctuations are among the factors that have caused disruptions.

Ranchers have been encouraged to process their own meat for sale; however, this process is subject to costly food-safety and inspection requirements. Current plans to import tariff-free beef products from Argentina and Brazil have led to criticism by ranchers and some members in Congress. The National Cattlemen's Beef Association, the American Farm Bureau Federation, the Livestock Marketing Association, and the United States Cattlemen’s Association have expressed concern about the devastating effects that this measure will bring to the industry, which will need years to recover.

In contrast, in March, China rejected 24.2508488 tons of beef from Argentina, due to traces of a prohibited antibiotic, chloramphenicol. In August, Florida recalled 29,628 pounds of raw Argentine beef, due to a lack of import pre-inspection. On September 3^rd, the European Union (EU) suspended imports of meat products from Brazil, following non-compliance with EU antimicrobial rules.

In U.S., some of the complaints encompass possible health issues, lower quality meat, and meeting inspections challenges. According to R-CALF USA, an independent cattle producers' union, the standards are different when comparing domestic and international practices. In addition, the country-of-origin labeling (COOL) for beef remains a non-mandatory provision.

Manipulations of Voters –

A 2024 study about consumers’ views on the elected officials’ ability to ameliorate food prices, found that approximately 70% of the respondents believed in the politicians’ competency to effectively decrease food prices. Promises made by politicians on their campaign trails coincided with the public’s voting aspirations for the election of their preferred candidate(s).

As elections approach, this administration is claiming a commitment to the welfare of the public and the agricultural sector. But these are efforts to appease segments of the population in hope to influence voting. The current administration has produced the Ensuring Affordable Beef for the American Consumer executive order to quadruple imports of beef from Argentina. Brazil is a nation that could benefit from the “Further Ensuring Affordable Beef for the American Consumer” plan that was announced on August 26^th. Beginning September 1^st, imports of approximately 100,000 metric tons (MT) per month of lean beef trimmings will roll for three months under a temporary tariff-rate quota (TRQ) suspension. Lean beef trimmings will be blended with fatty domestic meat to make ground beef.

Imports of potentially contaminated meat, or chemically processed beef trimmings, will continue and remain mostly unnoticed by most consumers, who might be appeased by temporarily lowered prices instead.

Underscoring the ‘affordable beef for the American consumer’ remains a gimmick to influence the constituents. Along the same line, imports have been pushed as an opportunity to provide “space for American ranchers to grow the domestic herd.” Yet, this move will not fill the supply gap in the long term. Instead, it can lead to price competition, which will harm the domestic market. Furthermore, the timing of these imports coincides with the peak of the sale period for agricultural products and may damage domestic sectors.

Unsafe Meat Products and Health Issues -

Lean Beef Trimmings or Pink Slime?

Circa 2012, it was discovered that ammonia-treated beef, also known as pink slime, landed in trays of ground beef at grocery stores and in school lunches. The story soon disappeared from the news, when the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) decided that no labeling or further provision was needed if up to 15% of ammonia-treated beef was inserted in ordinary beef products. Later, the name was changed to lean finely textured beef (LFTB), aka lean beef trimmings.

LFTB is a by-product of what remains after cutting the original meat into roasts and steaks. These high fat content trimmings are susceptible to bacterial contamination. To use them as fillers, a 100 degrees heat procedure is performed to liquify the content and separate the fat from the proteins, with the latter being treated with ammonia gas, which changes into ammonium hydroxide to raise the pH level of the product. This process should eliminate bacteria contamination, but it is not always successful. The final trimmings are then combined with other meat products to become ground beef.

Ammonia is an alkaline solution used as a cleaning agent. Food -grade ammonium hydroxide is a solution in which the gas dissolves in water. When the USDA initially permitted treated LFTB for consumption, it did so without making sure that safety risks had been debunked independently. According to 9 CFR 319.15(a), ammonium hydroxide is not considered an ingredient, or its use would be non-compliant with federal standards. Therefore, it was regarded as a treating or pH adjustment agent, while no labeling is provided and scarce information is disseminated.

LFTB is still used in hamburger meat at many grocery stores, fast food places, and restaurants. Some of the supporters of this by-product maintain that “"it's just beef, dude" or “isn't all that bad… [and that} the ammonia treatment isn't unhealthy either.” Yet, generally regarded as safe (GRAS) by the FDA, ammonium hydroxide has not yet undergone a study to investigate the safety threshold in consumption. The only literature available refers to the existing natural ammonium hydroxide, and not when it is ‘added.’

Chloramphenicol 

Chloramphenicol has been linked to serious blood disorders in humans, including irreversible aplastic anemia, a condition in which the body stops producing enough new blood cells, and bone marrow suppression.

Image Source:

National Center for Biotechnology Information (2026). PubChem Compound Summary for CID 5959, Chloramphenicol.

A link between chloramphenicol and liver disease has been found. An article by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (2026) goes over the chemical structure of this antibiotic and includes notes on its toxicity to human health.

EU Antimicrobial Rules

Article 118 of EU Regulation 2019/6 has extended the EU’s antimicrobial resistance (AMR) rules from veterinary medicine to imports of animals and animal products from non-EU countries. AMR, one of the most urgent health challenges, occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites develop immunity to medicines. This creates a severe obstacle for the treatment of infections and the containment of the spread of illnesses. The rules limit the overuse of antibiotics in human medicine and prohibit the use of antimicrobials for the acceleration of animal growth or an increase in production.

New World Screwworm (NWS)

The NWS is a type of fly that feeds on dead tissue. The larvae hatch in open wounds, and mucous membranes, causing infection, pain, and ultimately death. After decades of control, the recent phenomenon is linked to imports from south of the border.

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New World Screwworm Life Stages

This parasite is harmful to livestock, pets, wildlife, birds, and humans. According to the CDC (2026), a female screwworm can lay 200-300 eggs at a time and possibly up to 3,000 eggs during her 10- to 30-day lifespan. Humans may become infected if they closely work with livestock and/or wildlife. People can be victims of the NWS if they live in areas affected by this parasite. Individuals with a weak immune system, mental disability, malnutrition, alcohol abuse, poor hygiene, and poor housing conditions may also be at risk.

Legislative Efforts and Alternatives –

• The expansion of the anti-trust enforcement would ensure a dilution of concentration of power and resources in the hand of a few and foster competition. On March 5^th, the Family Grocery and Farmer Relief Act was introduced and presented as a “pro-consumer, pro-competition, pro-worker and pro-farmer bill.” This Act would require meatpacking corporations to select one line of business only rather than maintaining a monopoly across many areas. In the beef sector, it would establish caps on concentrations at the regional and national levels, while also tasking the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) with requiring divestitures once those caps have been reached.
• The enactment of the Stop Price Gouging in Grocery Stores Act of 2026 would ban corporations from using technology for price gauging. On February 12^th, U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján and Jeff Merkley introduced this bill following reports of grocery prices increases based on consumers’ personal data. The technology in question provides for the creation of a consumer’s profile, along with the collection of biometric data, to then determine which price to charge to each consumer. Among various directives, this Act would establish the prohibition of surveillance pricing and require grocery stores to disclose the technology used. Kroger and Walmart are retailers that have implemented this contested practice.

• Ammonium hydroxide is not the only component that can make meat safe for consumption. Citric acid is found in nature and is a great substance to use to reduce bacterial growth. High-pressure processing (HPP) and steam pasteurization are other preferred methods that do not rely on chemical additives. Furthermore, the use of natural methods is also better received by consumers.
• Unadulterated  and sustainable products may be the safer choices. USDA certified organic meat may be a safer option. Organic food standards prohibit the use of ammonia to treat meat against bacteria. § 205.105 prohibits the use of some synthetic substances and methods. Additionally, the use of dyes to give a pink color to the meat is not allowed. Organic meat contains fewer harmful bacteria and no antibiotics and growth hormones. Additional benefits include omega-3 fatty acids, less cholesterol, and antioxidants.

© 2026 Dr. Rita Pavone | OnPoint Research and Consulting