| With the problems our country faces with obesity, | | | | Consumers must be wary of products at the grocery |
| many are wising up and reading labels more. So while | | | | store that are marked hormone and antibiotic free. |
| looking at fat content and calories, it should be no | | | | This does not mean they were never given these |
| surprise that some are reading labels to find out if their | | | | products. They could have been raised on them, but |
| meat has been treated with antibiotics or growth | | | | then withdrawn the treatment a few months before |
| hormones. | | | | sending them off to be processed for consumption. |
| Livestock that are raised on feed daily that is riddled | | | | The fast still remains that they most likely were raised |
| with antibiotics are given it so they grow faster. Since | | | | on antibiotics and growth hormone. One of the best |
| there is an industry standard when it comes to | | | | ways to know if your meat is truly free from these |
| "market weight", giving animal's antibiotics or growth | | | | types of chemicals is to buy from a reputable source, |
| hormones makes the process faster. Most of the | | | | either locally or online after extensive research. |
| places that give their animals antibiotics have their | | | | Some may find it surprising that federal regulations ban |
| animals in crowded spaces that can stress the animals | | | | the use of growth hormones for hogs, yet it is not the |
| out, making them susceptible to disease. Livestock | | | | same for sheep or cattle. Those apposed to growth |
| from a different environment, one where they are free | | | | hormone treatments find this information appalling. If it is |
| to wander around in a more natural environment, are | | | | against the law to use them for one type of animal, |
| not as susceptible to disease. And naturally, antibiotics | | | | those apposed agree it should be that way for all. |
| wouldn't be given to help increase growth. | | | | |