What is hormone treated beef?

Hormone treated beef is meat from cows that have been given synthetic hormones.

While the animals are reared, they are given hormones to encourage fast weight gain. Although this speeds up the time it takes for the animal to grow and reduces feed costs, it presents some human health concerns and questions around animal welfare.

Currently, the UK has a ban on producing and importing hormone treated beef (and other hormone treated meats) due to public health concerns. But there is pressure from the USA to accept these imports as part of a UK/USA trade deal.

What are the concerns about hormone treated beef?

Using growth hormones in beef production has been banned in the EU since 1989.

This is largely down to 2 main concerns with the practice:

1. Carcinogenic properties

In 1999, the Scientific Committee on Veterinary Measures Relating to Public Health (SCVMPH) carried out a review on hormone treated beef.

It concluded that estradiol-17β - one of the 6 hormones commonly used in USA beef production – has to be considered a complete carcinogen (which means having the potential to cause cancer). This is because the hormone "exerts both tumour initiating and tumour promoting effects".

The data available didn’t allow the Committee to quantify the risk of the hormone when it is consumed, for example, in hormone-treated beef, but the properties are extremely worrying.

The Committee also concluded that there is insufficient data to assess the risks that the other 5 hormones may present to consumers. In other words, it cannot be proven that their use in food production is acceptably safe.

2. Animal welfare

The use of synthetic hormones occurs most frequently in the USA in so-called feedlot systems. This is where cattle are confined in large sheds or crowded outdoor lots for around 6 months.

During this time, the cows gain a lot of weight over a short space of time to reach slaughter weight as quickly as possible. They are given hormones and rapidly fattened on grain-based diets. 

Often animals in these systems never graze, but have food delivered to them. Key animal welfare problems associated with feedlots include:

• muddy conditions

• poor handling

• heat stress

How is beef produced in the UK?

The UK has some of the highest food safety and animal welfare standards in the world.

While production methods vary across farms, there are some national standards that must be adhered to by all UK livestock farmers. These ban the use of growth hormones and include basic requirements for the standard of hygiene and animal welfare.

What is organic beef produced?

While these national standards provide some assurances, Soil Association organic standards go even further to put animal welfare first.

Organic standards insist that all animals – including beef and dairy cows – are given plenty of space and fresh air, which helps reduce stress and disease.

Being kept in smaller herds, with more access to outdoors means organic animals enjoy a diet that is as natural as possible and don’t have to be routinely treated with antibiotics.

Find out more about organic animal welfare.

Trade deals - how do we protect food safety standards?

Recent Which? Brexit Consumer Research revealed that 80% of British citizens would not be comfortable eating beef produced with growth hormones.

We must remain vigilant to ensure that future trade deals do not allow hormone-treated meat into the UK market. This could present health risks to the UK public and would condone low animal welfare practices overseas.

And it’s not just hormone-treated beef. There are other practices allowed in USA food production that currently aren’t permitted in UK food standards.

Our Soil Association organic standards will not change as the UK transitions out of the EU, but it is vital we maintain the UK’s high national food standards and not allow this produce into the UK market, to protect:

• our food safety standards

• the welfare of farm animals

• the livelihoods of our hardworking British farmers - who could be undercut by these cheap, but unethical low-quality products

With the support of our members, our policy team is working hard to influence government on the issue of hormone-treated beef. All the risks USA imports pose to food safety and British producers must be addressed before agreeing to a trade deal.

Find out more about our other priorities for government.