Hormones in Beef

By putting retaliatory tariffs on Common Market food imports, the Reagan Administration has called to public attention the fact that all American beef animals are treated with hormones (Part I, Dec. 28). Since these growth hormones are so dangerous for Olympic and teen-age athletes, my family doesn’t want to ingest any of them--even second hand.

We already know from reading The Times that the pollution in Santa Monica Bay has contaminated the fish and that much poultry contains poisonous salmonella.

Now we are wondering whether American dairy cattle get their injections of hormones. If so, American cheese may be even more expensive--in the long run--than French cheese. I know where my money will go, even though it will not go as far.

MARGARET W. ROMANI

Los Angeles