Synonyms

• 17β-estradiol, 17β-trenbalone, advanced meat recovery systems, agriculture, agro-toxins, ampicillin, AMRS, androgen, androgenic, antibiotic-fed animals, antibiotics, antibiotic-growth promoters, antibiotic residue, antibiotic resistance, antibiotic-resistant bacteria, antimicrobial, antimicrobial residue, Australia, avilamycin, avoparcin, bacitracin, bacteria, bacterial, Baytril®, beef, BGH, biocides, biodynamic, bioengineered, bovine, bovine growth hormone, bovine somatotropin, bovine spongiform encephalopathy, breast cancer, BSE, BST, Campylobacter sp., cancer, carcinogen, cattle, CDC, chloramphenicol, chronic wasting disease, ciprofloxacin, community-supported agriculture, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, crops, CSA, dairy, dairy waste lagoons, dalfopristin, DES, diethylstilbestrol, drug-resistant, effluents, endocrine, enrofloxacin, enterococcal, enterococci, Enterococcus casseliflavus, Escherichia coli , Enterococcus durans, Enterococus faecalis, Enterococcus faecium, Enterococcus gallinarum, Enterococcus hirae, Enterococcus mundtii, estradiol, estrogen, EU, European Union, FAO, FDA, feed ban, feedlot retention ponds, fish, flavomycin, flora, fluoroquinolone, food additives, food chain, food labeling, food supply, free-range, fruits, genes, genetically modified food, genetically modified organism, gentamicin, gestagenic, GMO, grass-fed, green labels, groundwater, growth hormones, growth promotion, gut flora, herbicides, HGP, hormonal growth promotant, hormone, hormone-free, IGF, IGF-1, IGF-I, infection, infections, infectivity, Institute of Medicine, insulin-like growth factor, insulin-like growth factor 1, intestinal microbiota, intestinal microflora, IOM, ionizing radiation, irradiation, JECFA, Kuru, lactational crash, levofloxacin, livestock, mad cow disease, man-made steroidal progestin, maximum residue level, MDR, melengestrol acetate, MGA, milk, Monsanto, multidrug resistance, MRL, multidrug-resistant, National Organic Program, natural food, nitrofurantoin, NOP, nutrition, OFPA, organic, organic farming, Organic Foods Production Act, organophosphates, oxytetracycline, pathogens, penicillin, pesticides, phenotypes, pituitary, Posilac®, poultry, prion, progesterone, public health, quinolones, quinupristin, rBGH, rBGH-free milk, rBST, recombinant DNA technology, recombinant bovine growth hormone, recombinant bovine somatotropin, reproductive, residue, rifampicin, salinomycin, Salmonella sp., scrapie, slaughter, soil, spiramycin, steroid, steroid hormone, steroidal hormone, streptomycin, surface runoff, surface waters, sustainable agriculture, sustainable farming, synthetic hormones, synthetic steroidal progestin, teicoplanin, teratogenic, testosterone, The Swann Report, transmissible mink encephalopathy, trenbolone, trenbolone acetate, trimethoprim, tylosin, United States Department of Agriculture, US, USDA, USDA Organic, USDA organic label, USDA organic seal, vancomycin, variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob, variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, vCJD, vegetables, veterinary, virginiamycin, WHO, whole foods, World Health Organization, zeranol.

Background

• Well-being is linked to access to a healthy food supply. Currently, the farming industry is experiencing pressure to produce animals and vegetation destined for consumption at a predetermined weight and size, in the shortest amount of time and at the lowest possible cost. This demand has lead to the use of growth-promotion techniques, including low levels of antibiotics in feed, as well as naturally occurring and man-made steroid hormones during the growth phase.
• There has been significant public scrutiny concerning the use of hormones and antibiotics to help produce meat and dairy products since their long-term effects on human health are unclear. Using such antibiotics and hormones has also remained a controversial issue among academic and industry experts.
• Currently, in the United States, a product is considered "organic" if the food, farm, handlers, and processors of that food all meet specific criteria from the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Meat is designated to be organic if the animals do not receive any antibiotics or growth hormones. Genetically modified or bioengineered animals and vegetation are not allowed to be labeled organic, nor are food products that have been treated with radiation.
• Antibiotics: Antibiotics, or antimicrobials, are natural compounds made by microorganisms, which may be used to destroy bacteria that cause infections and diseases. A wide variety of antibiotics are used in agriculture and medicine alike. They are classified based on their chemical composition as well as the class of microorganisms against which they are effective.
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Technique

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Theory/Evidence

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Health Impact/Safety

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Future Research or Applications

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Author Information

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Bibliography

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