HORMONES

More Common In Nature Than In Industry

Hormones are present naturally in all foods of either plant or animal origin. Cattle in feedlots often receive additional hormones for good reasons; they gain weight faster and put on more muscle and less fat. Animals treated with hormones grow 15 to 20 percent faster than untreated animals. For both producers and consumers, their use provides economic benefits - the meat is produced more efficiently and at a lower cost to the consumer.

What Are Growth Promotants?

Hormone growth promotants are anabolic substances which are implanted in the ears of cattle. The hormone is gradually released into the blood stream of the animal. Most of the additional hormone is metabolized and excreted. An estimated 63 percent of beef cattle in the United States are implanted with growth promotants. Most cattle processed in the United States are grain-fed cattle, and approximately 90 percent of those cattle receive growth promotants at some time.

How Hormones Work

These growth promotants work through the endocrine system to increase growth of muscle tissue and decrease deposition of fat. Because a pound of muscle can be produced with less feed than a pound of fat, an implanted animal converts feed to meat more efficiently.

Hormones Occur Naturally

The human body naturally produces hormones in quantities substantially greater than would ever be consumed by eating beef or any other food.

Estrogen Content
In Nanograms (ng) per 4 ounces 

For example, the extra estrogen in a serving of beef is 1.85 nanograms (a nanogram is a billionth of a gram); the level in the same size portion of beef from a non-implanted steer is 1.3 nanograms. By comparison, a non-pregnant woman produces 480,000 nanograms of estrogen daily.

The FDA has determined that even in cases of misuse, or overdosing, those hormones would not reach a concentration considered unsafe.

Science Says Hormones Safe

Numerous scientific bodies, not just U.S. agencies, have looked at the issue and all, including European scientists, have concluded that the use of hormone products is safe. Safety of the approved growth promotants has been reported by the World Health Organization; the United Nations' Food and Agricultural Organization; a special European panel; the EC Scientific Working Group on Anabolic Agents in Animal Production; and the Codex Alimentarius Commission, a UN and WHO organizations of food regulatory authorities.

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Michigan Beef Industry Commission
2145 University Park Drive, suite 300
Okemos, Michigan 48864
(517)347-0911 FAX: (517)347-0919
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