Growth Hormones and Your Food

Many food producers have been known to use growth hormones in order to boost production. A number of large companies have been embroiled in a debate regarding the use of bovine growth hormones, which are being used in the US to boost beef and milk production.

While there is widespread concern regarding the possible ill effects of using such artificial growth hormones, American authorities have cleared six hormone growth promotants (HGPs) for use on beef cattle, and one more for boosting milk production. HGPs are still banned in most other countries.

This could be because meat and milk products form a major part of the Western diet. The thumb rule for most Westerners, when it comes to meeting their dietary requirements, is to have one portion of meat and two glasses of milk for good health and strong muscles. At the same time, most people are completely unaware of what exactly goes into the making of these very milk and meat products.

One of the biggest debates is regarding the transparency of the entire affair. Law does not stipulate that food producers label their products with what kind of growth hormones they are using. Over and above the question of whether they are harmful or not, it is a matter of willful suppression of information.

Recent studies, however, have complicated the issue by raising a number of pertinent environmental concerns. The debate around growth hormones is configured around four major concerns: who exactly benefits from the use of these hormones, animal health, food safety, and concern regarding the environment.

The US cattle industry started using hormone growth supplements as far back as 1956, initially using DES (diethylstilbestrol). In the 1970s, six additional hormones were cleared for use on cattle. Of these six, three were naturally occurring hormones —Oestradiol, Progestrone and Testosterone— while the other three —Zeranol, Trenbolone and Melengestrol— were chemically synthesized.

Some studies have pointed to the increased risk of cancer from consumption of beef with growth hormones supplements. As a result of this and other research, nations such as Britain have in fact banned the import of American beef.

Other organizations have also raised concerns regarding the ethics of using artificial stimulants to boost beef and milk production. Animal health, and the value of life are the main issue of discussion here.

Environmental concerns are also a major debate when it comes to approving or opposing the use of artificial hormone growth stimulants. Many consider this an interference with nature which is likely to cause harm in some way or the other. The only issue is when and in what form will we encounter these problems arising out of meddling with nature.

All of these concerns are important and must be taken on board before one wholeheartedly supports the use of growth hormones on cattle. At the same time, one has to address the issue of increasing food requirements in the face of a rapidly growing world population and shrinking space for dairy and livestock uses. It is no doubt a thorny issue and will need to be approached in a sensitive manner. How we tackle this issue will play a major role on matters of food security in this new millennium.