...The Hormone Beef Trade between the United States and Europe Jesse Shirley POL-300 Fall 2011 Final Examination Project 12/12/2011 Beef Trade 1 Table of Contents Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………….2 Findings………………………………………………………………………………………....3-4 Conclusion………………………………………………………………………………………...5 Figure 1……………………………………………………………………………………………6 Figure 2……………………………………………………………………………………………7 Timeline………………………………………………………………………...…………………8 References…………………………………………………………………………………….…...9 Beef Trade 2 The way beef is viewed in the United States is far different than the way beef is viewed in Europe. Europeans are opposed to genetically-modified crops and food containing growth hormones. They commonly refer to this food as “frankenfood”. On the other hand in the United Sates these practices in modifying food is considered routine and risk-free. This has caused a trade disagreement involving beef that has lasted nearly three decades. This trade disagreement has caused trade barriers on products exported from the United States and Europe. Since the 1980s, the European Commission has been blocking meat from U.S. cattle containing growth hormones. Specifically in 1989 the European Commission banned all...
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...Trade in Hormone-Treated Beef Back in the 1970s, scientists discovered how to synthesize certain hormones and use them to accelerate the growth rate of livestock animals, reduce the fat content of meat, and increase milk production. Bovine somatotropin (BST), a growth hormone produced by cattle, was first synthesized by the biotechnology firm Genentech. Injections of BST could be used to supplement an animal’s own hormone production and increase its growth rate. These hormones soon became popular among farmers, who found that they could cut costs and help satisfy consumer demands for leaner meat. Although these hormones occurred naturally in animals, consumer groups in several countries soon raised concerns about the practice. They argued that the use of hormone supplements was unnatural and that the health consequences of consuming hormone-treated meat were unknown but might include hormonal irregularities and cancer. The European Union responded to these concerns in 1989 by banning the use of growthpromoting hormones in the production of livestock and the importation of hormone-treated meat. The ban was controversial because a reasonable consensus existed among scientists that the hormones posed no health risk. Although the EU banned hormone-treated meat, many other countries did not, including big meat-producing countries such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States. The use of hormones soon became widespread in these countries. According to...
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...Let’s Eat Jessica Haller DeVry University Let’s consider where hamburger comes from. Reading Pollen’s, The Omnivore Dilemma, it sparked an interest in me to not only follow the path of where the corn is grown and what it is used to create, but also what does corn feed that provides dinner on the table for us. One big contention in today’s day and age is how is the corn grown and used to feed the animals which sustain us. You see in the super markets all the time now, organic carrots, corn, potatoes, lettuce, grain fed hamburger. What does all of this mean? Taking a step back and looking where it originated, we see cattle herding. Herding cattle is as old as Time itself. As old as when the first cattle where domesticated over 50,000 years ago, and as old as the cattle drives done in the Old West. Now imagine living back in the days of the “Wild West”. Being part of a cattle drive and moving the cattle from the East coast and “Going West.” The cook or the “Boss man” of the cattle drive was the “man who owned the cattle they were herding -- but everyone also knew the cook was the man even the boss deferred to most often. The outfit's chuck wagon was a rough equivalent of a traveling general store, and the cook was not only the chief clerk of that store, he was usually the closest thing the cowboys had to a doctor, surgeon, dentist, tailor, and fussy maiden aunt.”(Old West, 2012) You being the “Boss man” have to feed the entire crew and making sure that you have enough...
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...NAME | FUNCTIONS | BEST FOOD SOURCES | HISTIDINE | a building block of proteins, glucogenic amino acid — it can be converted into glucose | pork, beef, chicken, turkey, fish, cheese,legumes | ISOLEUCINE | Important for synthesis of hemoglobin and other proteins,detoxification of nitrogen wastes, wound healing andimmunity | pork, beef, veal, lamb, chicken, turkey, fish, cheese,wheat germ, legumes, seeds and baker’s yeast | LEUCINE | Important for the synthesis of hemoglobin, other proteins and hormones, regulation of blood sugar levels, growth and repair of bones and muscles and wound healing | beef, pork, chicken, turkey, fish, cheese,cereals, legumes, nuts, seeds, baker’s yeast and spirulina | LYSINE | mportant for the synthesis of carnitine (a substance that helps to convert fats into energy) and collagen (a protein which gives strength to the bones, cartilage and skin) and other proteins and for calcium absorption | beef, pork, poultry, sardines, spirulina, soy products,brewer’s yeast, eggs,green beans, peas, lentils, spinach, amaranth, nuts, fenugreek seed | METHIONINE | A source of sulfur, a substance that helps the liver to efficiently process fats | beef, pork, poultry, fish, crabs, mollusks, cheese egg white,whole grains, cornmeal, nuts, seeds | PHENYLALANINE | A ketogenic amino acid — it can be converted into ketones | meat, fish, cheese,beans, wheat...
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...importantly, their children. Perhaps we should first take a look at exactly what is in our food. Steroid hormones are chemicals that are produced naturally in the bodies of all animals, including humans. They are chemical messages that control important body functions such as growth, development and reproduction. Our bodies produce them naturally in very small amounts to maintain a delicate balance. There are six different kinds of steroid hormones that are currently approved by FDA for use in food production in the US: Estradiol, Progesterone, Testosterone, Zeranol, Trenbolone acetate, and Melengestrol acetate. Estradiol and progesterone are natural female sex hormones; testosterone is the natural male sex hormone; Zeranol, Trenbolone acetate and Melengesterol acetate are synthetic growth promoters (hormone-like chemicals that can make animals grow faster). Ingesting steroid hormones, either natural or synthetic can upset the natural balance in the body and lead to health problems. Studies have shown increased rates of cancer due to the ingestion of Estrogen’s found in our food supply, especially breast cancer (Wayne, 2009). Other studies are finding connections between steroid hormones and weight gain. This should not be surprising since increased growth that is one of the main reasons steroid hormones are used. First of all, as mentioned before, the human body produces hormones in the amount needed to maintain a delicate balance and...
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...Ethics and the Food Industry By: Diana Rhyne and John Hanley In early 2009, Peanut Corp. of America was discovered to have allowed Salmonella tainted peanuts to be distributed across the United States causing an outbreak that resulted illnesses in 714 people across 46 states with nine resulting in deaths ("Department of Health and Human Services; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention", 2009). In this paper, we will explore the concept of corporate social responsibility and some of the current ethical dilemmas many corporations in the food industry face today. We will further discuss the many arguments (in favor of and in opposition to) these ethical dilemmas, or why these issues pose an ethical dilemma. Finally, we will examine the consequences of unethical behavior in the food industry and how consumer demand/behavior affects corporate decision-making. In the food industry, a corporation’s actions/inactions are often far reaching. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is not a new concept. The idea that a business (or business person) should behave in an ethical and socially responsible manner has roots in Biblical times with the advent of usury laws. During the 1700s, Benjamin Franklin was an early advocate for business ethics, going so far as to form a club for young businessmen, tradesmen, and merchants to come together to discuss business philosophies and further their careers (Finamore, 2005: 35-38). CSR is generally based on the idea that companies...
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...regardless of their harvest quality or crop prices. Ending direct payments are a positive for the taxpayer, but could have effects based on the market. The substitute for the direct subsidies were payments for crop insurance. The government makes cheaper crop insurance which covers less than previously. Though it makes farming risky, the risk shifts to the federal government, which are more responsible if crop prices plummet or if a disaster hits. Good for average farmers, but risky for the economy. Consumer Awareness The bill, in terms of the animal agriculture industry, took an incremental step in the right direction toward the consumer awareness problem. A passed amendment, according to CNN, “backs a new requirement that pork, chicken or beef sold in the United States must include details on where the animal was born, slaughtered and processed.” While this is an important step for consumers, it certainly does not do enough. Not to mention that it was fought vehemently by the meat processing industry. With the increasing public opinion in favor of localized food, they will lose money, and it is more expensive to label and track where their product is from. According to a 2015 Harris Poll about buying food locally, “50% (of US consumers) say it is an important factor in their purchasing decisions...
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...way the steak is cooked and prepared. We always look for finely trimmed New York, Rib-eye or Sirloin and sear it to perfection. The nutrients, vitamins and taste of a perfectly prepared steak can and should be enjoyed by everyone, regardless of any health concerns. While red meat is generally considered to be beef, bison, venison, lamb, duck and goose due to the darker red color of the meat, I am partial to different cuts of beef. These types of meat contain myoglobin, an iron-containing protein that carries oxygen from the blood to the muscles. The higher the myoglobin levels the redder the meat. While I do enjoy a roasted or fried chicken from time to time and it does contain some myoglobin, the U.S. Department of Agriculture considers chicken, veal and pork to be white meat. 60 years ago, the beef industry changed the way they raise cattle. While cattle raised grass-fed takes 18-24 months to mature, grain/corn fed became the standard due to them reaching maturity in only 14 months. (Carol Chuang http://ezinearticles.com/?Is-Beef-Really-Bad-For-You?&id=4039733) This change not only changed the way the meat tastes, in my opinion, it changed the future of beef in general. Red meat, when prepared my way, is my primary choice in...
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...Throughout the years the ownership was changed but the company was still a success so much that the consumers wanted to be able to enjoy the product at home too and in 1971 A&W cans and bottles were introduced for sale. ("History of A&W Root Beer," 2014 Paragraph 5, 6). In 1956, the first A&W drive-in restaurant in Canada opened in Winnipeg. The restaurant provided burgers, fries, onion rings and their famous A&W Root Beer served in cold frosted mugs. ("A&W," 2013 Paragraph 1). An important fact to state is that A&W Canada is a separate company from the American restaurant and has a different layout in everything from the branding of the company, to the items on the menu. (Alex Ballingall, 2012 Paragraph 2). Size and Growth A&W has 800 restaurants operating...
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...Genetically modified organisms (GMO’s) mankind’s solution to how the world supply’s food. The effects are controversial, to all life on the planet in ways that most cannot comprehend. Inherent Value is the value that an entity has on itself, for what it is, or as an end. Many people value what they consume, some might say genetically modified organisms have made it harder for mankind to cure itself from disease. GMO’s have been an ongoing debate for decades and while farmer’s fight to keep going, they have been given an option to plant genetically modified seeds that might grow longer and more ample crops. World hunger and the pressure to produce a more ample harvests can not only cost farmers more, but can lead to lawsuits and accusations of mistrust between the producer of these seeds and the consumers. In 1990 when “Forbes article “The Lesser of Two Weevils” was released stating “that cotton farmers in the United States had put 100 million pounds of agricultural chemicals on their crop each year for the last several years” (Newton, Dillingham, Choly, 2006) the media went rampant on this information. Controversy arose between growers, the media and distributors regarding whether these altered crops could pose a threat to human health and the ecosystem. Other countries were not too happy about the new and careless way the United States was treating its crops. Chemically altered plants and seeds can eventually be transferred to other plants by natural weather conditions. The...
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...Food Inc. documentary – notes Supermarkets and corn: • Grocery store tomatoes are picked green and then ripened with ethylene gas • Most people have no idea where their food comes from – food industry doesn’t want you to know the truth about what you are eating because if you did you might not eat it • The average grocery store has 47,000 products which makes it look like there is a large variety of choice – but it is an illusion – there are only a few major companies and a few major crops involved • Much of the processed food is just clever rearrangements of corn (eg. of the additives that are derived from corn: cellulose, saccharin, polydextrose, xanthan gum, maltodextrin, and high fructose corn syrup) • 30% of our land base in the US is used to grow corn because thanks to government policy farmers are paid to overproduce this easy-to-store crop • Farmers are producing so much corn that food scientists had to come up with uses for it – just like some of the additives listed above • Food scientist have also spent a lot of time reengineering our foods – so they last longer on grocery store shelves • 90% of the processed food products in the grocery store contain either a corn or soybean ingredient and most of the time they contain both (so you may be eating less variety than you think) • Animals, like cows and fish are fed with corn – because it is so cheap • Candy, chips and soda are cheaper at the supermarkets because the...
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...farmers to inject the cows with antibiotics to fight the contamination of E-Coli in the beef. Kiernan also goes on to say that this genetically changes the way the meat is produced. Basically it changes the healthiness of the meat and causes it to be unhealthy for human consummation. Bill Kiernan is the director of GAI Research & Insight. His research into the production of agriculture and the consummation of beef is very well documented in his research. Kiernan discusses the key points of my paper. For example when I stated that I had to find out where the meat had come from and how and why was it altered. Later in my paper I discussed how speaking with a butcher I found out that the beef was not grass fed, but corn fed which Kiernan discussed in his search for why some of us become sick and others do not. We must always make sure to read labels on the beef that we purchase and consume if we want to be healthier. DiGiuseppe, G. D. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.americancattlemen.com/articles/corn-fed-vs-grass-fed This article discusses the prospective of the farmer. Many farmers believe that all the information out there is contracting itself. One article states that grass fed beef is the best beef full of Omega-3 fatty acids but then the other article says that the beef is lean and does not contain much fat. Researchers from Texas A&M also stated that the grass fed beef is not as healthy as they would...
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...eats sixty-eight pounds of beef each year (142)". The way we buy beef today is misunderstood and needs to be further discussed. According to Michael Pollen, an American journalist, “Forgetting, or willed ignorance, is the preferred strategy of many beef eaters, a strategy abetted by the industry”. Michael Pollan means that people try to forget the bad things of the beef they buy. Many people ignore that the cow goes through a livestock auction, the process of getting the meat from the cow, how farmers struggle raising the cows, and the dark side of buying fast food. One thing that many look past is that most cows go through...
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...Tariff and non-tariff barriers are two important barriers of international trade. These are one of the traditional forms of government interventions in the economic activity. Even today it is practiced by all the countries around the globe. The governments all over the world try to improve their economy by supporting domestic business, through the tariff and non-tariff barriers. Even though it supports domestic business over the foreign competition, it comes at the cost of the domestic consumer. The consumer is forced to pay heavy import duties for getting the quality products. Tariff and non tariff barriers are explained in the following paragraphs by stating how they are used in the global scenario and their importance in risk management of a country. Tariff barriers are the most common device used for regulating the imports. It is commonly called as import duty. A tariff is a tax levied on products by the country of importation. Tariffs are generally considered as the least restrictive international trade barrier and are classified in to two important categories namely Advalorem tariff and Specific or Flat tariff. The Advalorem tariff is the one which charges a particular percentage of the total value of the imported products. This type of tariffs is used for the products like crude oil which are not countable. The specific or flat tariff charges an amount based on the total number of units imported in to the country/region. These tariffs are used for the countable products...
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...body, most importantly the brain and nervous system. (http://www.mayoclinic.org/) • Beef • Legumes, • Milk • Oats • Rice • Wheat • Yeast. Riboflavin – vitamin B2 Riboflavin function is to help the body growth such as hair growth and height. And it protects the red blood cells which help to boost the immune system. It also helps to release energy from carbohydrates. (http://www.nytimes.com/) • Lean meats. • Dairy products. • Fish • Poultry • Grains • Broccoli • Turnip greens • Asparagus • Spinach • Enriched food products. Niacin – vitamin B3 The main functions of niacin are that it helps the digestive system skin and it also helps the nerves to function. Furthermore it helps to convert into energy. (http://www.nytimes.com/) • Dairy products • Eggs • Enriched breads and cereals. • Fish • Lean meats • Legumes • Nuts • Poultry. Vitamin B6 Vitamin B6 which is also known as pyridoxine, main function is to produce energy it helps the body convert food. It helps the body to metabolise fats and protein. Vitamins are needed for a healthy liver, skin, hair and eyes. They also help the nervous system function properly. This vitamin also helps the body make several neurotransmitters, chemicals that carry signals from one cell to another. Therefore it is needed for normal brain development and functions. It also helps the body to make serotonin and norepinephrine hormones, this...
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