Doctor Reynold Bergen believes it points to a lot of confusion and concern on the part of consumers.
Doctor Bergen is with the Beef Cattle Research Council.
He's responding to word that the Earls Restaurants chain, based in B-C, is switching from Canadian beef to U-S beef because the American product is Certified Humane.
Part of the chain's argument in making the change is to have access to beef that's hormone and antibiotic free.
Doctor Bergen points out there are significant reasons for using hormones in beef production.
"We've got environmental benefits, we've got economic benefits, we've got resource efficiency benefits with no welfare impacts on the animal and no human health concerns."
He also questions how humane it is to refuse to use antibiotics to treat sick animals.
According to Doctor Bergen, Canadian regulations mean the difference in hormone and antibiotic levels in Certified Humane beef and Canadian beef is negligible at slaughter.
Those regulations include rules on the withdrawal of the use of hormones and antibiotics as the animals near slaughter.
He says the push for antibiotic and/or hormone-free beef is mainly coming from people looking for a marketing angle.
He suggests it works in many cases because most people don't have a first-hand connection to producers.
"They don't have first-hand connection to producers, they don't have the opportunity to realize day in and day out just how much farmers care about what they do for a living. You know, they're eating the same food at home that's ultimately winding up in grocery stores and restaurants."
And Doctor Bergen points out cattlemen eat the same food other consumers do so they also have a vested interest in producing beef that's safe and nutritious.
The Beef Cattle Research Council spokesman says all Canadian beef is subjected to oversight by a number of different parties to make sure what makes it into the human food chain is safe to eat.
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Doctor Reynold Bergen points out there are some profound benefits from using hormones in beef production.
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Doctor Bergen suggests it's a tactic that can be effective because most people have no direct connection to farms.
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He also questions the humanity of not treating a sick animal with antibiotics.
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