Parsons, Kansas —
Questions exist in the public sector regarding the safety of consuming hormone implanted beef. In short, the use of supplemental hormones in beef production has been scientifically proven as safe for consumers and is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For those still in question, let’s further examine the science supporting these facts.
Hormones are products of living cells naturally found in both plants and animals that often stimulate cellular activity.
There are six hormones approved for use in beef production. Three are natural hormones (testosterone, estradiol, and progesterone) and three are chemically similar synthetic hormones (melengestrol acetate, trenbolone acetate and zeranol).
Growth hormones in beef are primarily administered using a small pelleted implant that is placed under the skin on the back of the ear.
The implants are designed to release the hormone slowly over time into the bloodstream.
This ensures that hormone concentrations remain constant and low. Since the ear is discarded at harvest, the implant does not enter the food chain. Implants work by increasing the amount of growth regulating hormones, which are naturally produced by the animal.
This, in turn, increases feed efficiency, protein deposition and growth rate. Implanted calves usually result in a 10-20 percent increase in average daily gain (growth rate) compared to non-implanted calves. Moreover, because of the increased feed efficiency, less feed is required which decreases production costs by five to 10 percent.
Since implant doses are low, the use of implants in cattle has very little impact on hormone levels in beef. 500 grams (approximately one pound) of beef from an implanted steer contains approximately seven nanograms of estrogen compared to five nanograms of estrogen from non-implanted beef. Furthermore, there are many common foods that are naturally much higher in estrogen than implanted beef.
For example, 500 grams of tofu contains 16,214,285 times the amount of estrogen compared to the same amount of implanted beef. To gain additional perspective on the minuteness of these measurements, nanograms are equivalent to1 billionth of a gram. One gram is roughly equal in weight to one small paper clip.
If we were to divide the same paper clip into one billion tiny pieces, one of those tiny pieces would equal one nanogram.
Some consumers question whether consuming beef implanted with hormones can cause cancer or early puberty in children. Hormone implanted beef has never been implicated with adverse health effects in humans.
However, height, weight, diet, exercise and family history have been found to influence age of puberty. Furthermore, the amount consumed in implanted beef is negligible compared to the amount the human body produces each day.
Regarding potential environmental concerns associated with growth hormones, the FDA has determined that the use of natural hormones in beef does not pose a risk to the environment as the amounts administered to calves are much lower than amounts naturally produced by adult cattle.
Regarding synthetic hormones, extensive environmental risk studies have been conducted and the FDA has determined that the use of these hormones will not significantly impact the environment.
Most of the beef produced in the US spend most of their lives in a pasture and are then finished in a feedlot where they are given a grain fed diet.
Beef that are finished in a feedlot with the aid of growth hormones require less total land mass, less feed crops and create fewer greenhouse gasses per pound of beef produced compared to non growth hormone pasture based finishing systems.
Consumers that prefer to purchase naturally produced or organic beef raised without growth hormones, should be prepared to pay a premium.
Implanted beef reduce the cost and resources required in beef production and that results in lower costs that are passed on to the consumer.£
Livestock
The facts about hormones and beef
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