Animal Growth Hormones in Beef

Dr. Samuel Epstein is off base on his views about the current trade dispute between the U.S. and the European Union over the use of animal growth promotants (“None of Us Should Eat Extra Estrogen,” Commentary, March 24). For the record, the EU ban is an unfair trade barrier. The EU’s original intent was to protect European beef producers due to large surpluses of beef produced in Europe.

The joint United Nations committee that prepared the report determining the safety of growth promotants was described by Epstein as having “minimal expertise in public health” and “high representation of . . . senior FDA and USDA officials.” This statement misrepresents the committee, which included residue chemists and toxicologists from France, the UK, the Netherlands and Germany. Only three FDA and USDA representatives served on the committee, and all members of the committee went on record as saying “there is no risk to the public health or well-being as a result of properly administered growth-promoting anabolic steroid hormones to beef cattle.”

The Beef Quality Assurance program, created 10 years ago by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Assn. specifically to ensure that every pound of beef bought by consumers is residue-free, set standards that exceed those set by the USDA and the FDA regarding the proper use of animal health products.

Epstein should let the science speak for itself: Growth promotants used in cattle are safe and help the cattle industry produce quality, lean, affordable beef.

GARY COWMAN, Exec. Dir.

of Quality Assurance

National Cattlemen’s Beef Assn.

Englewood, Colo.