Growth Hormones in Food: Who Benefits?

The debate on growth hormones in food is centered around four main issues: who benefits from these growth hormones; animal health and welfare; food safety and environmental concerns.

The ugly fact of dairy and meat production is that many large producers are extensively using growth hormones to boost production. This is not a new issue, bovine growth hormones, used in the US to boost beef and milk production, have been the focus of debate for some time now.

Controversy also surrounds the fact that there are no labeling requirements in the U.S. for growth hormones in food. A recent study making a strong environmental case for the controversial cattle injections, has added a new twist to the debate.

The ugly fact of dairy and meat (especially beef) production is that many large producers are extensively using growth hormones to boost production. This is not a new issue, bovine growth hormones, used in the US to boost beef and milk production, have been the focus of debate for some time now.

But although growing numbers of consumers and scientists have expressed concerns about potential human health risks of this practice, the USDA and FDA have approved the use of six hormone growth promotants (HGPs) in the cultivation of beef cattle, and one more hormone used to increase milk productivity. Only a few other countries have approved the use of HGPs, while many others have banned their use.

Controversy also surrounds the fact that there are no labeling requirements in the U.S. for growth hormones in food. A recent study making a strong environmental case for the controversial cattle injections, has added a new twist to the debate.

Environmental concerns

Hormone residues in cow manure enter the ecosystem. Manure from factory farms enters the soil in the area and the surface and groundwater in that area. Apart from impacting the gender and reproductive capacity of fish and the aquatic ecosystems, there are concerns about traces of growth hormones finding way into the food we eat, though there are no conclusive studies to support that.
There is another school of thought which advocates that using growth hormones is environmentally friendly and reduces greenhouse gases. They argue that by using growth hormones we can produce more milk using less land, feedstock, nutrients, greenhouse gases, excretion — translating into all round positive impact on the environment. The same holds true for beef also, growth hormone supporters add.

Keywords:: growth, hormones, growth hormones in food

Name:: Abhijit Banerjee

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