Do hormones given to animals affect breast cancer risk of women who eat meat?
This question has not been studied directly. Women who eat meat from hormone treated animals have not been compared to women who eat meat from untreated animals. Examination of the animal’s hormone levels indicate that if the animals are correctly treated and slaughtered, the levels of hormones may be slightly elevated in their meat. But, these hormone levels are still within the range found in untreated animals. The use of hormones for the production of meat has been reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Scientists at the FDA do not believe that eating meat from hormone treated animals has human health effects. (See BCERF Fact Sheet #37, Consumer Concerns about Hormones in Food) Does eating meat affect the survival of women who have had breast cancer? Two cohort studies have examined meat consumption and the survival of women with breast cancer. Both studies looked at red meat consumption but they came to different conclusions. One study reported an increased risk of dea
