TAIPEI, Taiwan – Investigators with Taiwan's Food and Drug Administration found zilpaterol, a feed additive, in US beef imports, Reuters reported. As a result, authorities have increased checks of US meat imports.

The tainted beef was found in a restaurant owned by Wowprime Corp., a catering services provider and foodservice operator, according to Reuters. The company said it destroyed 203 kg. of tainted beef. Many Asian countries and Europe have banned feed additives such as zilpaterol on concerns about the drug side effects in humans.


Trade officials in South Korea suspended some imports of US beef supplied by Greeley, Colo.-based JBS USA, after zilpaterol was found in the meat.

Zilpaterol came under intense scrutiny after Springdale, Ark.-based Tyson Foods, Inc. announced it would stop buying cattle fed zilpaterol on concerns the feed additive was causing lameness and negatively impacting the quality of beef. Merck Animal Health, which manufactured Zilmax (zilpaterol hydrochloride), stopped sales of the product in August and announced it would conduct a scientific audit to monitor the process of feeding Zilmax to cattle.

In September, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange notified its customers that it will no longer accept cattle fed with zilpaterol.