Why Eating Hormone- and Antibiotic-Free Beef Is Better for You

It’s tough to keep up with the never-ending stream of information related to what food products are best to avoid and which are superfoods. Though some of the diet crazes and warnings are certainly suspect, many are built on solid research about how the foods you consume affect your health.

One such food trend that does have proven advantages for consumers is avoiding beef that’s full of hormones and antibiotics. Before you step into a butcher shop in Williamsport, PA, it’s important to know why buying hormone- and antibiotic-free meat is worth the extra cost:

• Stemming the development of drug-resistant bacteria: Ever since antibiotics were first allowed for use in animals in the 1950s, farmers have used them to treat diseases, and perhaps also to help the animals grow more quickly. Currently, animals use about 80 percent of the antibiotics consumed in the United States. One unintended consequence of all of this antibiotic use is that drug-resistant strains of bacteria and viruses are developing. Scientists worldwide worry about this development, as they fear it might lead humans to be vulnerable to a large-scale epidemic in the future. One benefit of consuming antibiotic-free animals is that you are taking a stand against wider antibiotic overuse that contributes to social problems.
• Improving animals’ lives: One reason farmers rely so much on antibiotics in their herds is that the animals are often housed in cramped living conditions that allow germs to spread rapidly. Farmers know they can treat the illnesses, and the drugs allow them to save on costs because they can accommodate more animals without improving the animals’ daily lives. As a consumer, your money’s “vote” counts. By choosing to pay more for hormone- and antibiotic-free meat, you are showing that you care about how animals are treated. If this happens on a large scale, farmers will be encouraged to improve their animals’ living conditions to meet customer demands.
• Keeping you healthier: When animals are fed antibiotics, the people who eat those animals are likewise fed antibiotics. Though there are standards for weaning cattle off antibiotics, studies show that humans still do ingest some of the antibiotics. Also, as mentioned above, your family could become less immune to any type of drug-resistant bacteria, making you more susceptible to illness. Likewise, animals being given additional hormones, whether natural or synthetic, has been linked to certain diseases such as breast cancer.

There are so many choices on the market now that it’s important to understand the options and make an educated decision when you head to your local butcher shop in Williamsport, PA. The friendly staff at the family-owned Tony’s Delicatessen & Fresh Meats are happy to help you choose between a wide selection of offerings. We’re proud to offer the finest in antibiotic- and hormone-free beef roasts that will help you make a delicious and healthy pot roast.

Since 1977, Tony’s Delicatessen & Fresh Meats has served up tantalizing meats and cheeses, along with homemade baked goods and spreads, to the local community. We also offer a full-service catering option for your events. Call today to find out more!

Categorised in: Butcher

This post was written by Writer