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Estradiol

Level 5 — High concernIn Winter's Dictionary

Estradiol is a veterinary drug — Natural estrogenic female hormone; growth promoter implanted in animals

Also: Oestradiol, Estrace

What it does

Natural estrogenic female hormone; growth promoter implanted in animals

Where you'll see it

Steers, heifers, lambs (as growth implants)

What the research says

Endogenous hormones cause variety of adverse effects from reproductive function to malignancies. Adverse reactions include nausea, depression, high blood pressure, blood clots, increased risk of stroke and heart attack.

Regulatory status

  • EU: banned
  • Notes: FDA zero tolerance in meat; EU banned hormone-treated meat imports since 1989

Sources

  • A Consumer's Dictionary of Food Additives (Winter): Endogenous hormones in animals and humans are known to cause a wide variety of adverse effects from reproductive function to malignancies