| Many people may not realize it, but much of the meat | | | | harmful ingredients in meat have proved inconclusive |
| we eat contains synthetic growth hormones and other | | | | and further studies are needed. One problem when |
| chemicals that may be harmful to us. Why would | | | | conducting a study is that the animals produce some |
| cattle owners want to use growth hormones? It is all | | | | of the hormones naturally, therefore making it hard to |
| about money. Ranchers today want to produce more | | | | determine how much is natural versus the pellet |
| cattle in a shorter period. A rancher may only have | | | | hormones. Also, the level of hormones produced |
| about 14 months to get the calf from a small size, say | | | | naturally varies from animal to animal, another hurdle |
| 80 pounds, to a selling size (around 1,200 pounds). | | | | for researchers to overcome. The concern with |
| Growth hormones help the cattle put on weight to get | | | | nitrates, used to cure meats and give them a pink or |
| them ready for slaughter in record time as well as | | | | red color, is that they can be converted into |
| reducing the amount of fat in the meat. Nitrates are a | | | | nitrosamines. Nitrosamines are believed to both cause |
| chemical compound that can also be found in meat | | | | and promote cancer. However, the FDA has no |
| today, being used to cure meat and give them a | | | | studies that decisively finds nitrates used in meats |
| healthy color. Most notably, nitrates are found in | | | | harmful, therefore continue to allow them to be used in |
| hotdogs, giving them their red color. | | | | processed foods. |
| The use of hormones in meat is nothing new. As far | | | | What should you as a consumer do? One thing you |
| back as the 1930s, research shows that estrogen | | | | can do is purchase organic meat. Organic meat |
| affected the growth rates in both cattle and poultry. | | | | comes from livestock raised without hormones or |
| By the 1950s, a synthetic (man made) estrogen, DES, | | | | steroids. Also, the cattle are fed grains with no |
| was being used to increase cattle size. However, DES | | | | pesticides involved. In 2002, the United States |
| was found to cause cancer and is no longer used to | | | | Department of Agriculture developed a system |
| "fatten" up cattle and chickens. | | | | whereas all organic foods (including meat) would be |
| The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) current | | | | labeled as such. So when shopping, you should see a |
| approves of five different types of hormones used in | | | | label on organic meat that signifies that it contains at |
| food production. Of these, testosterone and | | | | least 95% organic ingredients. Some grocery stores |
| progesterone are produced naturally by the animals | | | | carry organic meat, but if not, you may have to visit a |
| and zeranol and trenbolone acetate are synthetically | | | | butcher shop or health food store to find it. You can |
| made. These hormones are approved for use only in | | | | even buy organic meat through the Internet and have it |
| cattle and sheep. Poultry, such as chickens and | | | | delivered to your home. However, if you decided to |
| turkeys, and pigs do not gain much weight when given | | | | purchase meat online, you may want to first order a |
| these hormones, so they are not given them. Most of | | | | small amount. That way, you can determine if it meets |
| these hormones are given to the animal by inserting a | | | | all your specifications for delivery time, freshness, etc. |
| pellet under the skin of the ear. The pellet releases the | | | | before buying a larger quantity. |
| hormone and the ears of the animals are thrown | | | | As ranchers strive to find ways to get more cattle to |
| away during slaughtered. | | | | slaughter faster, consumers will continue to be |
| The concern of scientist and consumers both is that | | | | concerned in the methods they are using to do it. Until |
| traces of the hormones and chemicals will remain in | | | | more research is done, the best thing you can do it try |
| the meat and pose a potential hazard to humans who | | | | to be aware of all the dangers out there by staying |
| consume it. Have you noticed that girls today seem to | | | | abreast of the current research being done on cattle |
| be reaching puberty at a younger age? It is suspected | | | | hormones and chemicals used in processing meats, |
| that this may be due to the steroids found in today's | | | | and purchase organic meat for your family. |
| meat. Unfortunately, studies done on the potentially | | | | |