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Understand What You Eat: 4 Harmful Chemicals Found in Grocery Store Meat

written by

Joanne Mosher

posted on

January 1, 2024

In today's fast-paced world, convenience often trumps scrutiny when it comes to our food choices. And, during a quick trip to the grocery store, it can be easy to overlook the presence of harmful chemicals in the products we grab off the shelves. That’s why it's so important to really understand what you’re eating.

While meat is a staple in many diets, the industrialized production processes involved often introduce various chemicals that might pose risks to human health. Understanding these potential hazards is pivotal for making informed decisions about what ends up on our plates.

Read on to learn about four harmful chemicals found in grocery store meat.

Chlorine

Chlorine baths are often used specifically in the production of chicken in order to clean and chill the meat. In this process, raw chicken is placed in a bath of chlorine for around an hour to clean off any fecal matter or other contaminants it may have gathered during its time in the confined space of a factory farm.

While this is meant to produce clean and uncontaminated meat, it can actually have the opposite effect. Because of the length of time the meat spends in the chlorine, it can absorb some of the liquid—along with the contaminants it is supposedly getting rid of. 

Plus, a study has found that these chlorine baths do not protect the meat against listeria or salmonella.

Antibiotics

Many conventional farming practices involve the routine use of antibiotics in livestock. More often than not, these antibiotics are used to promote growth and productivity—allowing farmers to have even larger numbers of animals in confinement without the same level of risk for illnesses.  

While they do allow for increased production of meat, the overuse of antibiotics contributes to antibiotic resistance, rendering these medications less effective in treating human illnesses.  

Plus, exposing these antibiotics to bacteria found in livestock can cause these bacteria, and their subsequent diseases, to mutate and become resistant to antibiotics—making what was once a low-risk illness into a life-threatening one. 

Sodium Nitrite and Nitrate

Sodium nitrites and nitrates, commonly used as preservatives in processed meats, serve to inhibit bacterial growth and maintain the meat's color. While they are effective in preserving freshness and preventing spoilage, concerns have emerged regarding their potential health risks.

When exposed to high heat during cooking or digestion, these compounds can form nitrosamines, which are known carcinogens. Research has linked high consumption of processed meats containing sodium nitrites and nitrates to an increased risk of certain cancers, particularly stomach and bowel cancer.

Growth Hormones

Growth hormones such as estradiol-17β, testosterone, melengestrol acetate (MGA), zeranol, progesterone, and Recombinant Bovine Growth Hormones (rBGH) are frequently administered to livestock to accelerate growth and increase meat and milk production. 

While research is still being conducted, concerns linger regarding the potential impacts of these hormones on human health, particularly in terms of hormone disruption and developmental issues. 

Grocery Store Meat vs Farm Fresh Meat

While meat is a valuable source of protein and nutrients, being mindful of the potential presence of these chemicals is crucial. Opting for ethically raised and sustainably sourced meats can significantly mitigate exposure to these harmful chemicals found in grocery store meat.

Regeneratively raised meat—including grass-fed, grain-finished, and pasture-raised meat—boasts a cleaner bill of health, free from residual antibiotics and growth hormones commonly found in conventionally raised animals. 

Additionally, raising animals with diverse and natural diets gives meat more nutritional value, including higher omega-3 fat levels and more favorable omega-6 to omega-3 fat ratios. This means farm-fresh meat raised with healthy livestock practices is not only free of the harmful chemicals found in grocery store meat but is also full of nutrients that can benefit you and your family’s overall health. 

Holy Cow Farm Fresh is your destination for premium, healthy, grass-fed, and pasture-raised meat. Our local and family-owned livestock farm is dedicated to providing our customers with the highest quality, locally sourced, and sustainably raised meat—all without worrying about fake ingredients, hormones, and chemicals. Visit our website, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, or give us a call to get started on your order!

More from the blog

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