The Beef with Growth Hormones
“No added growth hormones” – What does it really mean for Canadian families?
You’ve seen the label on beef packages at the grocery store or butcher shop. “No added growth hormones.” But what does it actually mean, and why does it matter to so many Canadian consumers?
All beef naturally contains hormones — because all cattle produce them. To help cattle grow bigger and reach market weight faster, some producers supplement feed with additional hormonal growth promotants (HGPs). These are typically based on oestrogens and testosterones (female and male growth hormones). Some are naturally occurring; others are synthetic.
These promotants can increase growth rates by 10–30%, reduce the time to market weight, lower feed costs, and often produce leaner beef by encouraging protein rather than fat deposition.
It’s easy to see why they appeal to producers — especially in a competitive market.
What Do Canadian Regulators Say?
Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) have approved several hormonal growth promotants for use in beef cattle. They maintain that, when used according to label directions, there is no appreciable risk to human health from consuming beef from treated animals.
Most global regulators, including those in the United States, Australia, and New Zealand, have reached similar conclusions. However, the European Union continues to ban the use of hormonal growth promotants in beef production, citing precautionary concerns.
Why the Controversy?
The EU’s ban is largely based on concerns that HGPs may increase levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in meat, which some studies have linked to a possible increased risk of certain cancers. Other concerns raised by consumer and animal-welfare groups include:
- Potential links to earlier onset of puberty in children
- Increased incidence of mastitis in cows, leading to greater antibiotic use and the risk of contributing to antibiotic resistance in humans
- Questions around long-term cumulative exposure, especially for growing children and pregnant women
While Canadian regulators consider the risk negligible at approved usage levels, many Canadian families prefer to avoid added hormones when possible — particularly when feeding young children or seeking the cleanest possible protein sources.
What Should Canadian Consumers Do?
The choice is straightforward:
- If the potential health and animal-welfare concerns around growth hormones matter to you, look for beef clearly labelled “No Added Growth Hormones” or “Raised Without Added Hormones.” Many Canadian producers now offer this option, and some go further with “No Antibiotics Ever” claims.
- If you’re comfortable with the safety conclusions of Health Canada and the CFIA, conventionally raised beef remains a nutritious, affordable protein source.
Either way, supporting Canadian ranchers who raise cattle responsibly strengthens our domestic food system, keeps jobs in rural communities (especially across Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba), and contributes to greater food security and transparency.
How IIF Canada Helps You Make an Impact
At IIF Canada, we believe consumers should have a direct say in how their food is produced. Through our regulated share farming platform, members of the IIF community can invest in real Canadian cattle programs — many of which are managed with best-practice standards that prioritise animal health, transparency, and often reduced or eliminated use of added hormones where aligned with producer goals.
When you become a member and choose livestock opportunities, your investment provides ranchers with seasonal working capital without debt, shares in the genuine risks and rewards of each season, and helps build a more resilient, transparent Canadian beef sector.
You’re not just buying beef — you’re backing the stewards of the land, supporting family operations, and helping create a food system that delivers both nutritional value and meaningful community impact.
Ready to put a piece of Canadian ranching in your pocket?
Join the IIF community and explore share farming opportunities in livestock. Invest directly in the farms that raise the beef on Canadian tables — and watch your farm grow season after season.
