Where did the Beef go?
Just a few years ago, we would constantly hear things like, “Beef! It’s what’s for dinner,” “Where’s the beef?” and other slogans. Now, the American people have almost become afraid of beef. There’s a lot of confusion about antibiotics and hormones in our animal meat. I get it. We all like to know what’s in our food and how it will affect us.
But there’s a lot of misunderstanding about antibiotics and hormones floating through the country. We need to make sure we do our own research and find correct sources about our food. In fact, going to THE source (the expert farmers and ranchers) is always best! It’s important to remember that while our favorite social media influencer may give us great advice on a new Stanley cup, it may not be the best source to go to about animal meat…or anything agriculture, really.
America was founded on beef.
Cattle helped pave the way for many to come to America and be prosperous. Many of those ranches are still around today, being passed down from generation to generation. Many are still in operation with different owners. A good portion of farm and ranch owners across the country are families who value life, who dream of contributing something to the benefit and health of our country. The best practices that we used hundreds of years ago are still in use today, with better understanding and technology to mass produce and care for all of us.
That care also extends to our animals. We have a unique industry where we have to care and provide for the actual product. A cow or a chicken is not something that just sits on the shelf until someone is ready to buy it. It’s born, it’s raised by it’s mother, nurtured and cared for by the cowboys and cowgirls, and continually watched over by the ranchers. As a living thing, these animals get sick. Believe it or not, these animals are part of our families. When a calf is born on a cold winter’s night, we bring her into our home to warm by the fire until she can get up and suck milk from her mother. When a cow is struggling to deliver a calf, we watch her night and day, keep her comfortable and watch for all signs of trouble and help when needed. When they get sick, we do all we can, often with a verified vet, to help them recover.
We also give them antibiotics to help them grow and overcome illnesses. These medicines are vital as the livestock are constantly in nature. It wouldn’t be healthy if we kept them constantly locked up in a barn, so we must give them ways to grow and survive in the elements and overcome any danger that may come their way.
There are only 6 legal hormones ranchers give their cattle, all of which are found naturally in animals, plants, and humans. They use hormones to cut the time of production and also cut the amount of needed from the environment for each animal. Remember that these animals are not products that just sit on the shelf waiting for you to buy them. They need to eat every day and can consume a lot by the time they’re old enough to be processed, which is well over a year old. Studies have shown that “there is no definitive proof that sex and growth hormones found in meat and dairy products will lead to cancer, or cause early puberty in children”
Realize that paying more money for “hormone free meat” is a sales gimmick. Labels such as “hormone free meat” are impossible and false due to the fact that both plants and animals produce hormones like estrogen and testosterone naturally, just like we do. There will always be hormones. Labels that say “anti-biotic free” are not always trustworthy due to the legal withdrawal period, and the fact that doesn't have to include what feed the animal had, but more on that later.
To put hormone levels into perspective, let’s briefly look at some estrogen activity levels in cattle in comparison to humans and other animal and plant products. A pregnant woman will produce 19,600,000ng/day, a child (before puberty) produces 41,000ng/day. According to Iowa Beef Center, the amount of estrogenic activity in soy flour defatted is 755,000,000ng/500g. The amount in peanuts is 100,000ng/500g. The amount in eggs is 555ng/500g. Can you guess the amount for beef yet? I’ll give you another clue. The amount of estrogenic activity in milk is 32ng/500g. Have your guess ready? In beef from a non implanted (no added hormones) steer is 5ng/500g. So just how much changes when you do add hormones? Only 2ng/500g, making it a total of 7g/500g in a steer that was administered hormones.
In other words, 1 oz is 28.35 grams. An 8oz steak has 226.8 grams. Meaning, there is only about 3 nano grams of estrogen in your entire steak. Helps put things into perspective, doesn’t it?
Beef is and always will be the greatest source of protein as well as many other essentials like omegas and B vitamins. No other source can naturally give you such a large variety of nutrients from one serving.
Remember, the whole purpose of raising these animals is for the people. Just like the livestock, farmers and ranchers love and care for their families and the whole Human Race. Many would and do give strangers the shirt off their back, fix broken cars of anyone along the highways, and work night and day to deliver the best quality food to your dinner table. It would not and never will make sense for them to raise their livestock in ways that are unhealthy for us to consume.
That’s why for every hormone and antibiotic given to any animal, there is a “withdrawal period.” This refers to the time it takes the animal to break down the medicine or hormone into a safe-for-humans amount. Every hormone and every antibiotic used in our livestock have a withdrawal period and it is illegal to process any animal before that time is over. This period can be anywhere from about 0-60 days depending on the product given. By the time the animal is processed, there is very little to no antibiotics/hormones in your meat, and what amounts are still there are safe for humans to consume. Every process facility has a USDA certified meat inspector to ensure these regulations and many others are being kept and standards are reached.
It's important to remember, however, that meat product labeling legally does not have to state the country of origin.
Meaning, you may think you’re getting regulated American raised beef because it was packaged here, but being packaged in the US is the only requirement that meat product has to be labeled as “American Beef.” In reality, it could be beef from a different country with a completely different set of regulations. When in doubt, trust your local farmers and ranchers and buy as local and direct as you can.
If you would still rather have meat without additional hormones or antibiotics, look for labels that say “organic”. American ranchers follow strict regulations to be certified as “organic,” and are also being monitored by certified officials. But again, make sure it is true organic, American-raised beef by buying from ranchers as local and direct as possible.
You can also join our voices by going to your local legislation and getting packaging requirements changed to require labeling of the actual origin of the beef!
For more information you can check out these incredible resources! Remember, when in doubt, go straight to the source and ask the farmers and ranchers!