Vitamin manufacturing in the U.S. is nearly non-existent, leaving the country reliant on imports from China, the global leader in vitamin manufacturing. In a letter to President Trump, 16 members of Congress warned the administration about the country’s overreliance on China for “critical nutrients that are essential to both human health and animal agriculture.”
“Food security is national security, and immediate action is required to repatriate vitamin production to the United States to safeguard our supply chains for humans and animals alike,” the lawmakers expressed.
China’s vitamin production accounts for more than 70% of the world’s feed-grade vitamin A and 62% of vitamin E. An estimated 78% of U.S. vitamin imports come from China, with the country providing as much as 100% of some vitamins (Nearly 100% of folic acid is produced in China).
“Without adequate vitamins, sectors including eggs, aquaculture, swine, pet food, poultry, beef and dairy would face severe disruptions,” the lawmakers wrote. “Shortages could lead to reduced feed efficiency, impaired growth rates, compromised animal health, and diminished protein output, ultimately threatening livestock productivity and food availability.”
National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) past president and Minnesota pork producer Lori Stevermer highlighted this in her testimonies before the Senate and House Agriculture Committees earlier this year. NPPC, along with the American Feed Industry Association and other organizations, have been pressing the Trump administration on securing our vitamin supply chain.
“Vitamins represent a significant proportion of total feed ingredient imports, and some vitamins (biotin, folic acid, pyridoxine, thiamin, and B12) are almost exclusively manufactured in China,” Stevermer testified. “With the exception of vitamin A, E and niacin, 80% to 100% of all other vitamins must be imported from China. For biotin, folic acid, and vitamin B12, there are no other sources beyond China to acquire these vitamins.”
The lawmakers asked the administration to invest in domestic vitamin manufacturing, incorporate vitamin production into national security strategies, conduct a comprehensive review of vitamin supply chain vulnerabilities, and ensure infant formula nutrition inputs, such as vitamins, minerals and premixes, are integrated into federal supply chain vulnerability assessments and contingency planning.
“Vitamins are essential nutrients required by swine to optimize health, productivity, and wellbeing,” NPPC wrote in Capital Update. “The U.S. pork industry is dependent on vitamins manufactured in China because production is limited, and in some cases, there are no other country of origin options to meet industry volume demands.”
The lawmakers who submitted the letter include Brad Finstad, Ashley Hinson, Dusty Johnson, Don Bacon, Mike Bost, Mariannette J. Miller-Meeks, M.D., Derek Schmidt, John Joyce, M.D., Pete Stauber, Darin LaHood, Austin Scott, Julie Fedorchak, David Rouzer, Mark Messmer, Tracey Mann and Michelle Fischbach.
“The time to act is now – before a crisis unfolds,” the lawmakers say. “Food security for our animals and humans is indeed national security.”
