Partner content: What meat is hormone-free?

Ask Leah! The Ingles Dietitian

Partner content: What meat is hormone-free?

Question: Which of your pork, poultry and beef products at Ingles Markets are “hormone-free”?

Answer: Since all animals have naturally occurring hormones, no animal or poultry products are truly “hormone-free”. Animals, humans and even plants contain hormones.

If you are referring to animals that may have been given hormones to promote growth or muscle development; in the United States it is illegal to give poultry or hogs or sell poultry (turkey or chicken) or hogs (pork) that have been given hormones to promote growth. However, this certainly does not stop some brands from marketing turkey, chicken, and pork products as “hormone-free” or “no hormones added” which may be misleading or confusing to shoppers.

Some beef cattle are given an implant in their ear as calves to promote growth, but this dissipates long before they are harvested/slaughtered and enter the food supply. We routinely get more naturally occurring hormones from other foods that we eat like eggs, soy containing foods, potatoes and wheat germ.

Leah McGrath, RDN, LDN

Ingles Markets Corporate Dietitian