No grounds to change risk assessment of beef hormones: EFSA
There are no grounds to amend the risk assessment currently in place in
Europe on hormone residues in beef, the European Food Safety Authority
(EFSA) has concluded, following a review of new scientific data.
Growth-promoting hormones (GPH) are used to increase the weight
gain of cattle. However, these substances are banned in Europe because
of concerns about possible health risks from residues in the meat and
other edible parts of these animals.
Previous epidemiological data have linked the amount of red meat
consumed and certain forms of hormone-dependent cancers. Following the
emergence of new scientific data related to the risk characterisation
of natural and synthetic GPHs, the European Commission asked EFSA to
review its last risk assessment of the matter, which dates back to
2002.
It says that although new, more sensitive techniques have been
developed to identify and quantity the presence of the hormones, these
techniques are not yet widely used. 'Hence there is a lack of data on
the type and amount of GPH residues in meat on which to make a
quantitative exposure assessment,' states the EFSA opinion.
Furthermore, while new scientific data helps to shine a light on
these GPHs, the findings do not 'provide any quantitative information
that would change the understanding of the possible risks to human
health associated with residues of GPH substances in meat and meat
products.'
The new data did however make a link between the large-scale beef
cattle production using hormones, and undesirable effects in wild fish
species living in rivers that are exposed to waste water originating
from these farms, notes EFSA.
Given the knowledge gap on the risks to human health, EFSA says it
will not amend the current EU risk assessment on GPHs in beef.
Nevertheless, it says it will continue to collect new data on the
matter.
The new opinion will now inform any future thinking by the
Commission and Member States in relation to restrictions on the use of
these hormones in cattle.
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