Cancer remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide, with new cases rising steadily each year. That reality makes it all the more alarming when carcinogens are knowingly allowed to enter the food supply. In the U.S., one example involves a feed additive used in pig farming that experts have already determined is unsafe at any level of exposure.
The concern is not limited to pork on your plate. Farm workers handling animal feed are directly exposed, and surrounding communities face contamination as waste from large-scale operations seeps into waterways. When a compound carries risks for consumers, workers, and the environment alike, the failure to act quickly carries consequences far beyond the farm.
Many countries already responded by banning the additive outright, while American regulators have delayed meaningful action for decades. That leaves U.S. consumers vulnerable to a hazard others deemed unacceptable long ago.
This gap between science and policy has sparked closer investigation. Researchers and advocacy groups have examined how the additive persists in the food system and why regulators have been unwilling — or unable — to remove it. Their findings reveal how ongoing delays keep you at risk.
FDA Delays Put Your Health at Risk
A report from Food Animal Concerns Trust (FACT) explains that carbadox, a feed additive used in U.S. pig farming, was determined by the United Nations Codex Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods to have “no safe level.”1
This means even the smallest trace is dangerous for humans because it leaves behind carcinogenic byproducts that damage DNA.2 Despite this, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has kept it on the market for years, acknowledging the risk but failing to act.
• The drug is still given to millions of pigs each year — Over half of pigs raised for food in the U.S. are exposed to carbadox. This happens in concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) that rely on the drug for two main reasons: to make pigs grow faster and to suppress gut infections that spread in crowded, unsanitary conditions. This means pork products from these facilities carry residues linked to cancer, creating a direct food safety risk.
• Carbadox threatens not only consumers but workers and the environment — People who handle pig feed inhale carbadox dust, exposing their lungs to carcinogenic particles. Waste from pig operations also contaminates lakes and streams, spreading the compound far outside the farm. This isn’t just about what ends up on your dinner plate — it’s about how your environment is being seeded with a chemical tied to cancer.
• The FDA’s stall is tied to industry pressure and red tape — Even though the agency admits carbadox causes cancer, regulatory action has been delayed for more than 20 years. Pushback from industrial farming interests, lobbying from drug companies, and bureaucratic slowdowns have all been blamed for why the ban hasn’t gone through. This means your safety is being sacrificed to protect profits.
• Other countries acted years ago, but the U.S. has lagged — Canada, Brazil, the U.K., Australia, and the entire European Union banned carbadox long before the U.S. even considered withdrawing approval. The U.S. remains an outlier, exposing its citizens to risks other nations judged unacceptable.
The FDA even proposed withdrawing carbadox in November 2023, but the process stalled again, and the drug is still being sold and fed to pigs.3 This is a real-time example of how inaction at the regulatory level translates into ongoing exposure for you and your family.
• Safer farming practices prove carbadox is unnecessary — Farmers who raise pigs in healthier environments — avoiding overcrowding, allowing proper weaning, and providing balanced diets — do not need carbadox to control disease or promote growth. As the report emphasizes, “Humanely raising these animals results in healthier pigs and healthier people without the cancer risk carbadox introduces.”
FACT urges consumers and food companies alike to demand change. Large buyers like McDonald’s and Tyson could tell suppliers to drop carbadox, eliminating it from the food chain. On an individual level, your choices — whether you support farms that avoid such drugs or sign petitions pushing regulators to ban them — make a measurable difference.
New Testing Method Reveals Important Gaps
In a study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, researchers introduced a laboratory method designed to detect both carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic residues left behind by carbadox.4
• No residues were detected in the retail pork samples tested — Scientists analyzed 33 pork products from 13 different producers in the Baltimore region and found no trace of either residue. On the surface, this sounds reassuring, but the absence of detection does not mean carbadox is not being used nationwide. It simply means that the specific samples tested did not contain measurable residues at the time of purchase.
• Most pork producers refused to disclose whether they used carbadox — Out of the 13 pork producers contacted, seven did not respond at all, one admitted to using carbadox, one confirmed they did not, and four gave unclear answers. This lack of transparency leaves you in the dark as a consumer. Without consistent disclosure, you can’t know whether the pork on your plate originated from carbadox-treated pigs.
• The study stresses the need for stronger monitoring systems — Even though residues were not found in these particular samples, the researchers emphasized that widespread monitoring with sensitive tools is essential to protect consumers. This underscores the fact that safety depends not only on testing but also on consistent oversight across the entire pork industry.
• The findings reveal a disconnect between use and detection — The reality is that carbadox is still approved for use in the U.S., and yet retail testing didn’t find residues in the limited samples analyzed. This suggests two possibilities: residues might degrade before pork reaches the store, or contaminated batches might slip through without being tested.
• Consumer empowerment is part of the solution — Scientific tools exist to detect residues, but without accountability from producers, the risk remains. Choosing suppliers who reject carbadox entirely or demanding transparency from food companies puts pressure on the system. When you support producers who commit to clean and safe practices, you contribute to building a safer food supply.
Practical Steps to Protect Yourself from Carbadox Exposure
You don’t have to sit back and accept that a known carcinogen is part of the food supply. While the FDA drags its feet, you can take real steps to protect yourself and your family. The most important thing is addressing the root cause — CAFOs that rely on drugs like carbadox to mask unhealthy, crowded conditions. By shifting your choices, you reduce your own risk and support safer food systems.
1. Avoid pork altogether — I recommend steering clear of pork not only because of carbadox but also because pork contains linoleic acid (LA), a polyunsaturated fat that disrupts cellular energy production. Reducing or eliminating pork from your diet lowers both carcinogen exposure and the metabolic damage tied to this fat.
Consider rotating in other clean protein sources like pasture-raised beef and eggs from hens not fed industrial feed. This reduces the risk that your diet relies heavily on meat raised with harmful additives. Think of it as diversifying your safety net while still enjoying a variety of nutrient-dense foods.
2. If you do eat pork, choose responsible sources — While I don’t recommend eating pork, if you choose to do so, look for farmers or brands that raise pigs without feed additives like carbadox. If you buy pork regularly, ask your butcher or supplier directly how their pigs are raised. This step alone helps you avoid hidden residues and supports farms that use safer methods.
Also stay alert to labels and certifications. While pork labels are not always transparent, some certifications show better oversight. Look for organic pork, which by rule does not allow carbadox, or animal welfare certifications that signal safer practices. If you’re unsure, ask questions — your persistence helps keep producers accountable.
3. Support humane and sustainable farming — If you have access to local farmers markets or community-supported agriculture, get to know the farmers and ask about their practices. Pigs that are given space, proper weaning, and balanced diets don’t need carbadox to stay healthy. By buying from farms that embrace regenerative agriculture, you send a message that healthier pigs and healthier people are worth paying for.
4. Put pressure on big food companies — As a consumer, you have more influence than you realize. Large buyers like McDonald’s and Tyson Foods hold enormous sway over farming practices. If you use your voice — whether through petitions, direct feedback, or choosing alternatives — you encourage these companies to demand pork that’s free of carbadox.
5. Sign the FACT petition — FACT has called for a complete ban on carbadox. Adding your name to their petition strengthens public demand for change and pushes regulators to finish what they started. Your voice matters in holding agencies accountable for protecting public health.
FAQs About Carbadox in Pork
Q: What is carbadox and why is it dangerous?
A: Carbadox is a feed additive used in U.S. pig farming to make pigs grow faster and suppress gut infections in crowded facilities. International experts determined over a decade ago that no amount of exposure is safe because the drug breaks down into compounds that damage DNA and increase cancer risk.
Q: Has carbadox been banned in other countries?
A: Yes. Nations including Canada, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Australia, and all members of the European Union banned carbadox years ago. The U.S. remains an outlier, keeping it on the market despite acknowledging its carcinogenic risks for more than 20 years.
Q: What did researchers find when testing retail pork for carbadox residues?
A: One study tested 33 pork products from 13 producers in Baltimore and found no detectable residues.5 However, most producers refused to disclose whether they used carbadox, and the researchers stressed the need for broader, ongoing monitoring.
Q: How does carbadox exposure affect people beyond just eating pork?
A: Carbadox poses risks for farm workers who inhale feed dust and for communities near pig operations, where waste runoff contaminates lakes and streams. This makes it not just a food safety issue but also an occupational and environmental hazard.
Q: What steps can I take to protect myself and support change?
A: You can reduce risk by avoiding pork altogether due to both carbadox and its high LA content. If you do eat pork, choose organic or responsibly sourced products, support humane and regenerative farms, pressure major food companies to reject carbadox, and sign the FACT petition calling for a complete ban.
