There are now several hormone and hormone—like agents with marked ability to improve the rate of growth, carcass quality, milk yield and efficiency of feed use of farm animals. There is, however, widespread concern that the food products derived from treated animals impose health and safety risks on the consumer despite a wealth of scientific evidence to the contrary. It seems likely that legislation which currently restricts or bans the use of some of these compounds owes much to political considerations and the need to demonstrate resoluteness in environmental and public health matters.
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