08 April 2004

by Anai Rhoads

AnaiRhoads.org - The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) responded Thursday regarding the recent discovery of hormone levels found in slaughtered calves.

Inspectors from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety Inspection Service (USDA/FSIS) division laid bare an illegal scheme involving unlawful use of hormones on newborn male calves. The calves from three lots, were implanted with the hormones prior to arriving at two slaughter plants in Wisconsin, USA.

The findings provoked the FDA and USDA/FSIS to launch an investigation to determine how long this has been going on. Under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, any meat or meat by-products from veal calves that contain unapproved drugs may be unsafe for humans and are thus restricted.

"The illegal use of hormones to promote growth in animals has no place in American farming," said Lester M. Crawford, D.V.M., Ph.D., Acting FDA Commissioner. "FDA is committed to the immediate cessation of this illegal activity, ensuring the safety of the U.S. food supply. It is important for the American consumer to know that the veal supply is safe."

Currently, the meat industry does not have an approved growth hormone that is designated solely for use on veal calves, but under the guidance being issued to the veal industry, calves that have been injected with hormones can be presented for slaughter sixty-three days after implantation if the implants were used per policy established for adult cattle.

Aside from being force-fed hormones, calves have a limited life once born. Carried away within minutes after birth, they are placed in crates where they are shipped for slaughter. This brutal reality is still not fully exposed as the meat industry continues onward with the business of marketing their "product". Hormones are but one issue that needs to be addressed with regards to livestock.

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