STEROIDS IN MEXICAN MEAT--HEALTH RISK??

Government officials and health experts in Mexico argue whether steroid tainted meat is safe to the consumers or not. Early this month, several national soccer players competing in the Gold Cup tested positive for the steroid clenbuterol. The players and the sports federation contends the positive test could be the result of taking contaminated meat.

Sports anti-doping officials may not subscribe to this excuse but media reports reveal that the incidence of meat contamination is common in Mexico. There is a possibility that the players ate beef which were raised with the use of steroids particularly clenbuterol. Many ranchers in Mexico use clenbuterol in their livestock to increase meat production. Touted as miracle salts or cattle cocaine, clenbuterol helps build muscle mass. The meat becomes leaner and free from fats. For unsuspecting consumers, these qualities encourage them to buy the steroid tainted meat.

Government Assured Consumers Meat from Mexico is Safe

Health and agriculture officials from Mexico immediately counter the allegation that meat from Mexico is unsafe to the consumers. This is to avert any adverse effect on the cattle industry and the tourism as well. In a joint statement, government officials said that steroid related sickness in the country is not chronic. Last year’s data showed that there was only one case per one million Mexican consumer hospitalized for eating contaminated meat.

According to Miami Herald, there are at least 7 million beef cattle, 3 million dairy cows and 6.8 million calves in Mexico. The country is a major exporter of calves to the US and also a major consumer of beef. This is the reason why the government tried to limit the effects of steroid meat scare.

Critics, on the other hand, believe that the current situation in the cattle industry is a major concern. There has been reports that cattle producers from the states of Aguascalientes, Zacatecas, Jalisco, Guanajuato, Querétaro, Hidalgo, Veracruz, Michoacán, Mexico, Tlaxcala and Durango use steroids in their livestock.

Zero Incident to Make it Safe

Hospitalization because of Mexican steroid tainted meat reached 795 cases in 2007 and decreased in 2010 to 297 cases. However, health experts argued that there should be zero cases of steroid related illnesses before the government can say it is safe for consumption. People who are sickened by steroid tainted meat are those who buy organ meat particularly liver. Symptoms usually appear after an hour of ingestion which includes palpitations, headache, nervousness, and fluctuating blood pressure.

Mexico Penalizes Use of Clenbuterol on Cattle

The government has an existing law penalizing the use of the steroid clenbuterol on cattle production. Offenders will be facing at least seven years if found guilty but many ranchers still ignore the law. It is estimated that using steroids for 1 or 2 months will yield to an additional 15% meat. That would translate to an additional 100 pounds of meat for each cattle.

It was also noted that some ranchers overdose their stocks with Clenbuterol to earn more profit. Health experts warn consumers that they should be more cautious in buying lean and less fatty meat.