EDUC 6163 - Research Project -The Beginning

I chose the topic of Nutrition for my research project.  More specifically, I chose to find an answer to the question:  Are beef and dairy products with added hormones safe for human consumption?  

I chose this topic for several reasons.  My immediate family has recently suffered from many health conditions, all of which could be traced back to hormones in food.  My daughter has just been put on a very strict, hormone free diet by her doctor.  A family in my child care provides all of their 12 month old daughters food, as she requires a hormone free diet.  Another family has recently approached me, asking for a similar diet to be supplied to her children at child care.  This interest in hormone free diets from my child care clients, in combination with family health issues, has spiked my interest in the issue of hormones in the American diet.  

So far, I have found very little testing or research documented by United States facilities or agencies.  The little I have found leans toward hazards with hormones in foods, although very vaguely.  However, I have found mountains of information from other countries.  Most of the research deems hormones unsafe, and claims high incidences of cancers, and early onset of puberty with hormone consumption.  The best place to find research on my topic seems to be Scholarly Google.  I also checked federal and state governmental agencies.

In my small corner of the United States, there are many women suffering with fibroids, uterine cancers, and breast cancers.  Women and men alike are suffering from fibroids and tumors.  Almost every family I have talked to has at least one relative with a similar condition.  Several mothers at my child care, relatively young women, are being treated for ovarian and fibroid related conditions.

For my research project I will be performing a needs assessment, surveying families about their knowledge about our food sources, whether they choose organic or hormone-free foods, are concerned about additives and pesticides.  In this way, I can set a baseline in which to begin parent education.

Does anyone else in this class have any input on this topic?  Do you know many persons suffering from similar conditions?  Do you know any families on hormone free diets?  Do any of my classmates outside of the United States have differing insights to share?