There have been many reports in the media lately about Coles now selling only ‘HGP free’ beef. While Coles claims it has made this decision in an effort to provide consumers with a better quality product many say it is simply a scare campaign.
The issue has created a lot of controversy amongst both consumers & members of the beef industry. Whilst consumers should have a right to choose what sort of beef they buy they also have a right to be provided with correct information. Research has found that HGP treated beef has no greater impact on meat quality than other factors such breed & age of the animal. Research done by the Australian Pesticides & Veterinary Medicines Authority & the World Health Organisations Expert Committee on Food Additives has also shown that HGPs do not pose a threat to human health.
Consumers also need to be aware of the benefits of using HGPs. If farmers can get their animals to put on weight faster it means they can sell them sooner. This means their production can be a lot more efficient, making beef more affordable to the consumer. It also enables beef to be produced using a lot less resources such as food & water. Due to their increased efficiency animals treated with HGPs also produce less methane. If HGPs were not used at all in Australia, the Australian cattle herd would need to increase by an estimated 2 million head to produce the same amount of beef, this would put a huge strain on resources.
And as for the celebrity chef on A Current Affair stating that "farmers are making a fortune from using HGPs" we would like to provide him with a calculator as its really not that hard to see who's making the money when farmers are currently getting paid around $1.95/kg for their beef.
For more information on HGPs & their use in Australia visit Meat & Livestock Australia.