Silent Scribbles

I am starting another ongoing series- Banned in the EU. This will be all about the ingredients and additives banned in the EU but still allowed in the USA.

This post will be about the Hormone Treated Meat.

Europe banned these in 1981.

Hormones have 4 classifications:

1. Aminoacid derivatives
2. Peptides, polypeptides, and insulin
3. Eicosanoids
4. Steriods

The majority of the hormones used are steroids and have serious and detrimental effects on us.

The first is rBGH (or rbGH). This stands for Recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone. It is classified as a steroid. rBGH is used to increase milk production. In humans, it stimulates the liver that initiates the release of IGF-1 (Insulin-like Growth Factor-1). In bovine, it enhances milk production, increases the rate of blood flow to mammary cells leading to the production of a large number of mammary cells, improves the ability of existing cells to synthesize more milk, and decreases the capability of the body to synthesize fat making free fatty acids available for milk production extending the production of milk up to 3 times. IGF-1 is resistant to pasteurization. Since the use of rBGH, instances of breast cancer has increased over the last 50 years from 1 in 20 to 1 in 8. With the use of rBGH, the risk of mastitis in bovine is 25% greater. This leads to the increased need for antibiotics, which leads to a serious effect in humans with potential increased risk of an allergic reaction and antibiotic resistant bacteria. An interesting note, many large retailers such as Wal-Mart have phased out milk brands that have rBGH. Milk that has rBGH is required by the FDA to be disclosed on the carton.

Next are the growth hormones- Oestradiol, Progesterone, Testosterone, Zeranol, Trenbolone, and Melengestrol. All are used for growth purposes to increase the meat quantity in cattle. They are typically administered through subcutaneous implants and/or mixing into the feed. These cause the animals to grow at a rapid, unnatural rate. This is terrible for the animal as a whole because their legs can not support the added weight and the internal organs are not developed to keep up with the additional pounds.

Residue from the growth hormones are found in the meat. These residues are known to be harmful to humans as they interfere with the development of reproductive systems and can lead to breast, prostate, and colon cancers. Estradiol benzoate is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer and can modulate the growth of children and decrease the age of puberty. Progesterone blocks ovulation and in the form of contraceptives is potentially carcinogenic to humans. Testosterone, in addition to well known effects, also leads to pseudo-hermaphrodism, virilization, and PCOS in girls. Trenbolone Acetate (TBA) is believed to have an 8-10 times greater anabolic activity than testosterone.

Hormone-related chronic illnesses are on the rise. These include:

• Breast and prostate cancer
• Thyroid disease
• Obesity and diabetes
• Endometriosis
• Uterine fibroids
• Infertility