ABSTRACT
Growth promoters include a wide range of substances that are generally used in farm animals for therapeutic and prophylactic purposes. These substances can be administered in the feed or in the drinking water or even from implants. In some cases, the residues may proceed from contaminated animal feedstuffs (McEvoy, 2002). Anabolic promoters have been administered in the United States to meat-producing animals where estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone are some of the allowed substances. Other countries allowing the use of certain growth promoters are Canada, Mexico, Australia, and New Zealand. However, the use of growth promoters is ofcially banned in the European Union since 1988 due to concerns about harmful effects on consumers (EC, 1988).
