Correlation between Synthetic Estrogen in Beef and...

On a brisk November morning, a dismal eight year old Madison Lynn missed school as the cramps in her stomach grew increasingly worse. Her mother frantically called the doctor asking what could be wrong with her young daughter. After her mother explained her daughters symptoms to the doctor, it was mutually agreed upon that Madison was about to begin menstruation. The mother was worried about her daughter for she knew Madison was much too young. Much to her mother’s dismay, Madison started menstruation that same evening. Even under her abnormal conditions, Madison’s story is not the only one resembling this. Many young females are in the beginnings of menstruation at age eight whereas the adolescents of age thirteen were more subject to†¦show more content†¦European Union’s Scientific Committee on Veterinary Measures Relating to Public Health (SCVPH), have broken down steroids into two main categories, natural and synthetic, with three types for each cate gory. Feedlots generally use three natural steroids which include estradiol, testosterone, and progesterone, and three synthetic or mad man steroids which are estrogen compound zeranol, androgen trenbolone acetate, and progestin melengestrol acetate. These steroids can be administered to the cattle through pellets. Manitoba Agriculture, Food, and Rural Initiatives states, â€Å"pellets are injections given to cattle by inserting a needle into the middle third of the backside of the ear.† Since the ear of the cattle is merely tossed away in the slaughtering process, then this method of the delivering the steroids should be benign. Manitoba Agriculture, Food, and Rural Initiatives likewise add, â€Å"Improper use of pellets can cause higher levels of hormones to be left in the edible meats.† In addition, illicit use and administration of these steroids can harm not only the beef cattle but humans as well. Slaughter houses follow the Acceptable Daily Intakes (ADIs) set by the FDA. The FDA states, â€Å"the safe level of estrogen is 21 billionths of a gram.† According to the United States Meat Export Federation (USMEF), â€Å"A serving of beef has .3 billionths of a gram of