The Beef Hormone Issue

Paper Summary:

The writer of this well-researched paper details the health risks which can and do result, due to the use of hormones in the beef produced in America and around the world. This paper traces the use of hormones in beef back to the 1970s, when the U.S. began using hormones to accelerate the growth rate of animals in an effort to conserve time and money. The writer contends that over 95% of the cattle in the U.S. are currently being administered growth promoting hormones. This paper examines the ongoing conflict between the U.S., the European Union and Canada over the ban on cattle products produced with growth hormones. Since the 1950s, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), has been researching the effects of growth hormones and it, as well as other scientific experts, have found that there is no difference between beef raised on hormones and those raised without. This paper delves into the various FDA laws which permit the use of hormones in restricted amounts. The writer of this paper also focuses on the health risks involved with the ingestion of these hormones. Scientists and health experts contend that any increase in the level of hormones, above that which occurs naturally in humans, carries a potential risk of carcinogenic effects.

From the Paper:

"Beginning in the 1970's the United State's meat industry began using hormones to improve the growth rate of animals in an effort to conserve time and money. In 1981, the European Union began restricting the use of growth hormones within the Union itself, and also began restricting the import of meat and meat products derived from cattle that had been given hormones. During the past years, the European Union have updated and/or amended its regulations several times, generally to include more hormones, however, for the most part, the regulations have remained the same. The dispute at the World Trade Organization concerns the use of six scientifically approved hormones used for cattle growth promotion, estradiol, melengestrol acetate, progesterone, testosterone, trenbolone acetate, and zeranol."

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