Growth Hormones in Food
The use of growth hormones in food production processes is a regular practice within the meat and dairy industries. Producers depend on these chemicals to achieve larger livestock, better quality meats and increased dairy production levels. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible for monitoring the safety of the foods we eat. Whether or not there are health risks related to eating these foods has yet to be established.
Identification
The growth hormones used in livestock and feed work in much the same way as the chemicals that are naturally produced by our bodies. They are chemical messengers that travel throughout the body and they affect how it functions. Growth, reproduction and development are all regulated by how these chemicals are produced. Hormones are either steroid-based, or protein-based. Birth control pills are a type steroid that affects the body directly. Protein-based hormones are digested, so they have no direct effect on how the body functions, however they do cause effects when injected. Insulin is an example of a protein-based hormone.
Types
Hormones are often used to increase milk production in cows, stimulate growth in livestock and reduce the amount of feed they need to grow. The FDA is in charge of regulating the levels of growth hormones used within the production process. Synthetic chemicals are often used in the place of naturally-occurring proteins and steroids. In the case of milk production, a synthetic chemical called rb GH (also known as bovine growth hormone) is injected into cows to increase the length of their lactation periods. With meat, as many as six different hormones are used within the production process. Zeronal, trenbolone and melengestrol are synthetics used to promote growth in livestock, whereas, oestradiol, progesterone and testosterone are naturally-based. Melengestol is also used as a feed additive. It works to increase nutrient absorption for livestock, which allows animals to reach their "market" weight quicker, and less feed is used in the process.
Function
Naturally occurring chemicals are easily metabolized by the bodies of both livestock and humans. Synthetic brands are not. Because of this, the FDA administers extensive toxicology testing on animals before approving synthetics as safe for use. Strict regulatory requirements are imposed on manufacturers to ensure that chemical levels found within the tissues of livestock are within the normal physiological range. Hormones are implanted in pellet form behind the ear of an animal, and are designed to provide a slow release discharge into the bloodstream. Any chemicals used within this process--whether natural or synthetic--are available for over-the-counter purchase in the United States. From there, livestock producers administer them throughout different stages of production.
Effects
In past years, certain synthetic hormones used to treat humans were found to increase the risk of cancers. Diethylstilbestrol (DES), a synthetic estrogen, was used in the1960s to reduce the risk of miscarriage for women. It was eventually banned as a result of research studies that found a link between DES and vaginal cancer in the offspring of women who had been treated with the drug. This, and other accounts have raised considerable concern as to what effects the growth hormones in our food can have. Studies carried out on rats by Health Canada (Canada's version of our FDA) were given the rb GH synthetic used for milk production in cows. Results showed the rats systems' had built up anti-bodies to milk as result of rb GH. These results raised questions as to whether, or not this synthetic can give rise to milk allergies, or lactose intolerance in humans.
Considerations
The overall use of growth hormones in livestock and feed increases profit margins within the meat and dairy industries. Large producers make extensive use of these drugs within their production processes. In spite of ongoing FDA regulations and monitoring, there are growing concerns regarding possible health risks resulting from the use of growth hormones in food. As there are no labeling requirements in place to provide consumers with information on the levels of hormones within foods, public knowledge regarding these issues remains limited. The ongoing lack of scientific evidence to determine any actual effects allows for the continued use of hormones in food production, in spite of the controversies surrounding this practice.
Tags: hormones used, growth hormones, growth hormones, hormones food, milk production, used within, dairy industries