Are hormones used in meat and poultry productions?
All animals, including humans, naturally produce significant amounts of hormones during their lifetimes since hormones are needed for normal growth and functioning. The use of added hormones is carefully regulated by law. Federal law does NOT permit the use of added hormones in poultry or swine (pigs and hogs). Since hormones are not used in the production of poultry (chicken and turkey) or hogs, poultry and pork products sold in the United States do not contain any added hormones. Cattle farmers use small amounts of hormones to increase rate of weight gain in animals. The amount of hormone found in beef products is negligible compared with the amount of hormones naturally produced by the human body. Beef from a bull has testosterone levels more than 10 times higher than beef from a steer (castrated bull) that has received hormones during production. The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture monitors beef for hormone residues. Hormone residues
