Tag: Food hormones

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), growth-promoting hormones are approved for use in beef cattle and sheep, but federal law prohibits their use in poultry and pigs. This clarifies the complex question: does the US put hormones in their food, and if so, how and where is it regulated?

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, organic meat, dairy, and eggs come from animals that have not been given growth hormones or unnecessary antibiotics. However, the answer to the question, can organic foods have hormones, is still yes, due to naturally occurring compounds in all living things.

While many people worry about artificial hormones in meat and dairy, a 2022 SDSU Extension study showed that certain plant-based foods contain vastly higher levels of naturally occurring hormone-like compounds. Let's explore the science to discover which food has the most growth hormones, both added and natural, and what the true impact is on your diet.