The last time you ordered a hamburger, what did you ask to have on it?

 Did you ask for mayonnaise, lettuce, tomatoes, ketchup and synthetic growth hormones?  Wait… what was that last one?  Synthetic growth hormones?

Of course you didn’t ask for synthetic growth hormones in your burger – nobody would – but that doesn’t mean you didn’t get any. Over the last several years, millions of ranchers across the United States have been injecting synthetically made growth hormones into millions of cattle.  In fact, according to Science News, nearly 80 percent of all U.S feedlot cattle are injected with hormones.  So out of the average 32.5 million cattle slaughtered each year in America that’s nearly 26 million with synthetic growth hormones running through their veins!

But let’s get some information in the clear first.  Naturally occurring growth hormones are a good thing.  They’re everywhere – in humans and in animals.  It’s the unnaturally occurring hormones – the kind that have been injected – that we’re not so sure about. We don’t know what effects synthetic growth hormones have on the body.  There have been no definitive tests.

However, according to the European Union’s Scientific Committee on Veterinary Measures relating to Public Health, there are six natural and artificial growth hormones used in beef production that can pose a potential risk to your health: Oestradiol, Progesterone, Testosterone (the natural) and Zeranol, Trenbolone, Melengestrol (synthetic).  This has led to the European Union not allowing hormones in cattle production and prohibiting the import of hormone-treated beef since as early as 1988.  However, the United States and Canada still allow growth hormones in their cattle.

But here’s the questions – even though scientists are not certain of the long-lasting effects of synthetic growth hormones in our food, shouldn’t you have the right to know whether or not they’re in your steak or burger?  Of course you should.

But the USDA doesn’t require ranchers to label whether or not their cattle has been injected (Note: Earth Fare prohibits meat and milk with synthetic growth hormones).

Since companies are not required to say what has synthetic growth hormones and what does not, the next question is:  What can you do to avoid eating meat or drinking milk with synthetic growth hormones?  First step is to look for labels that say “USDA-certified organic.”  Second step is to steer clear of fast food restaurants.  Third Step is to know where your foods come from…ask questions, dig a little deeper – seek out that local farm!  AND FINALLY step four: When you order your next burger, say, “Hold the HORMONES!”

Piedmontese Cattle on the Descheemaeker Ranch
No Antibiotics, No Growth Hormones and Humanely Treated
available at your local Earth Fare