US puts profit before food safety
And it seems that only the EU stands in its way.
In 1988, the EU banned beef from North American cattle that are treated with growth-promoting hormones, claiming it could harm consumers.
Ten years later, in 1998, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) ruled that the EU had to provide more scientific evidence, or lift their ban within 10 days. This ruling also allowed Canada and the US to punish the EU, by imposing $100 million per year in tariffs on EU imports.
Now, after five years of research, the EU has delivered its latest scientific evidence on the six hormones used by 90% of American farmers to make their cattle grow faster and bigger.
According to the EU report, one of the hormones, oestradiol, is a "complete carcinogen". Quoting independent scientists, the report alleges that even small residues of it in meat may cause cancer.
The EU Scientific Committee for Veterinary Measures said those who eat beef treated with all six hormones are at risk of developing cancer, genetic problems and brain disease, and children are most at risk.
A second EU study warns these risks are compounded by inadequate controls in the US, where 90% of cattle producers use growth hormones.
They are freely available over the counter, the report says, and can be used without veterinary supervision. Not surprisingly, EU authorities are now talking about extending their ban to imports of supposedly hormone free US beef.
EU meat eaters can take re-assurance from Brussels' strong stance, which seems to be their only defence from a US steamroller food offensive.
Showing absolutely no signs of conscience, the US industry insists their beef is perfectly safe, and Washington is poised to double the tariffs on selected European goods, if the EU continues to ban its beef.
A US trade official said that because the EU made no definitive judgement on five of the six hormones, the EU has not delivered the risk assessment demanded by the WTO, and must therefore lift its ban. In other words, "Eat our beef; scientists say only one of our six growth hormones is carcinogenic", is the US attitude.
They are not prepared to wait several years for proof of the dangers of the other five hormones to emerge even though scientists say some of these five are synthetic hormones which can cross the placenta during pregnancy, severely damaging the foetus, and that pre-pubescent children are in danger from another "very potent" hormone, zeranol (Ralgro), which Irish farmers are familiar with, having used it until 1988.
The US government would gladly have us stuffing ourselves with hormone-laced beef and genetically modified foods, just to keep the money rolling into their food sector, regardless of the health consequences.
We have to agree with EU Environment Commissioner, Margot Wallstrom, when she recently accused US biotech firms of telling lies about GM crops.
They say they want to solve starvation in the developing world, with GM foods; she says they want to solve starvation among their shareholders.
She is standing firm on behalf of European consumers, telling the US they cannot force GM food upon Europe.
Nevertheless, the European Parliament passed legislation in July approving the sale of GM foods here in five years' time, but foods with a GM content of 0.9% or more must be clearly labelled.
The US weren't satisfied. They filed a suit with the World Trade Organisation, saying a five-year moratorium on approvals of new GM crops maintained by the EU had deprived it of a potential $300 million export market.
Profit seems to be everything to them; they are not worried about the scientific findings on GM crops which will emerge years down the road, just as they have emerged in the case of beef hormone research.
Thousands of US consumers must have been killed by beef hormones; does it make any difference to Washington?
What value does George Bush put on these human sacrifices to food profits?
And how long can the EU hold out on its own against the US steamroller? Will the WTO call a halt to its strong-arm tactics?
For consumers, these are life or death questions.
