Donald Trump has signed a deal to stock British meat shelves. Source: Mega;Unsplash
Officials in Britain worry that contaminated U.S. beef could flood their supermarket shelves soon. But across the pond, this same beef is widely produced. Millions of Americans eat it willingly every day.
A new trade deal between the U.S. and U.K. will send 13,000 tons of American beef across the Atlantic — enough for every adult in Britain to get a medium steak. But British consumers fear this beef, which faces looser regulations, could contaminate their supply.
In the U.S., farmers often raise hormone-treated cattle. These hormones speed up muscle growth and cut the time to slaughter, boosting production and lowering costs.
However, hormone-treated beef has been linked to early puberty in kids and higher cancer risks. While it’s common in the U.S., Great Britain banned hormone-treated beef back in 1989, following an EU ruling that deemed it unsafe.
The United States Cattlemen’s Association says about 80% of U.S. beef comes from cattle fed growth-boosting hormones.
These hormones help produce more meat per animal, making beef more profitable for farmers.
But a troubling report from the 1970s claimed Italian schoolboys developed breast tissue after eating hormone-fed meat.
There were also reports linking hormone-treated beef to earlier-than-normal puberty in girls.
The British government promises strict certification and border checks to block hormone-treated beef from entering the UK.
But the National Farmers’ Union wants clearer details on how these checks will work.
Ian McCubbine, a beef farmer in Surrey, shared his worries with the BBC.
“How do we know what they are putting in?” he asked.
“We’ve spent 50 years building an industry focused on environmental care and animal welfare.
The fear is that U.S. beef imports could be lower quality.”
Liz Webster, founder of Save British Farming, shared her concerns on X.
She tweeted, “We gave tariff relief on luxury cars but opened our doors to US beef and ethanol. With weak border checks, who knows how standards will be enforced?”
Meanwhile, U.S. experts insist their beef is safe to eat.
British officials want to ease public fears.
Darren Jones, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, said, “Companies worldwide know that importing hormone-treated meat breaks the law.
“There are border checks, and violations will have consequences.”
