Where's the beef? Scientists justify ad funding

A GROUP of Australian scientists have defended their participation in an advertising campaign, partly funded by the pharmaceutical industry, criticising Coles supermarkets for selling only beef free of added hormones.

Thirty-five animal and veterinary scientists were signatories on a newspaper ad stating the supermarket's decision would have serious consequences for farmers, consumers and food security.

One of the signatories and a spokesman for the group, Ian Lean, said the only way the scientists could compete with the Coles campaign was to seek support from the Animal Health Alliance, which represents manufacturers of animal health products including growth hormones.

"It is very important for scientists to come out and tell [people] their food is safe and that it has been safe for 40 years with these hormones," Professor Lean said.

Coles started selling beef free of added hormones in January "to give customers more tender, quality beef".

Another signatory, Alan Bell, said a recent review of the Australian research, including studies by the CSIRO, showed that the use of hormone growth promotants had only a small negative effect on the tenderness of beef.

This could easily be overcome, particularly by ageing the beef longer, he said.

"And there are many other factors, including the way the animals are treated before slaughter, that have a much more profound effect."

Professor Bell, who is chief of CSIRO Livestock Industries, said he was expressing a personal view.

Growth hormones can improve the growth efficiency of beef cattle by more than 30 per cent. The cattle can absorb more of the nutrients in feed, meaning they eat less while still growing.

A spokesman for Coles, Jim Cooper, said it was not forcing beef producers to do anything and that its suppliers were being compensated for additional production costs.

"We've never said [hormone growth promotants] are unsafe. Our rationale for ceasing their use is purely to give customers more tender, better quality beef," he said.

via brisbanetimes.com.au

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