Hormone Free and Free Range

Meat products are increasingly sketchy in the United States. Two main factors are if the animals are fed hormones or caged. It is amazing how one of the most weight obsessed countries on the planet has not stopped hormone treatment. Unlike cross-breeding, hormones fed to animals to make them big and fat also affect the humans who consume them.

People make an issue about lower food cost. The Weston A. Price Foundation for Wise Traditions makes a compelling argument for the use of hormones. However, as a health conscious consumer I don't want to be fattened up or produce more milk. Hormones were supposedly tested on live human subjects and the dosage will not noticeably affect a human being. Does it really matter if it is noticeable?

Beyond paying slightly more for non-hormone dairy and meat, the issue of free range animals is a growing problem. Free range products ensure a quality of life of the animal and better product. Free range implies living outside, away from toxins and unclean environments.

Free range means animals are able to run and exercise. They are allowed to burn calories and develop, unlike animals kept in a cage. Caged animals become flabby and fat. The meat is filled with gristle and other unwanted, dormant chemicals.

In addition to restricting their life and being a lower end product, the issue of unclean stalls is probably the main reason for mad cow disease. As the ranching industry progresses, diseases like mad cow, bird flu and pig flu have gone up. This contamination begins with the animal eating something contagious, like feces. Since the animals are stacked together in one inadequately lit barn the disease can spread rapidly to the entire population.

How does eating meat from animals injected with hormones and eating feces sound appetizing? As people become educated on the subject farmers will no longer save money. This product is less attractive to the public. A lower profit also includes repercussions from killing hundreds of chickens, cows and pigs after an outbreak which forces the meat to be recalled.

The cost is reasonably similar in most cases. As demand goes up for hormone free and free range prices should go down. The current, standard methods of ranching are increasingly dangerous to the consumer. Look for the Freedom Food Label when shopping.

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