Do I need to worry about antibiotics and hormones in my food?

When it comes to antibiotics, hormones and food, we hear a lot of questions. Are they safe? Why do farmers use them? Do all livestock animals receive them? Farmers are the experts when it comes to taking care of livestock, so we asked local farmer Neal if we need to worry about antibiotics and hormones in our food.

“We give antibiotics to our animals when they are feeling sick, just like when people are feeling under the weather. Everything is prescribed by a veterinarian, and we follow strict guidelines set by the FDA,” said Neal. “When it comes to hormones, some farmers use them in cattle and sheep to produce leaner meat by helping the animals convert their feed. The use of hormones is also highly regulated, and it’s something we take very seriously.”

Have questions for Neal? Leave them in the comments below.