The government insists that U.S. hormone-treated meat will not begin to penetrate the UK market after the trade agreement reached this week, which has promoted beef trade in both directions.

Some farmers and consumers, including Beef Farmers in Surrey, including Ian McCubbine, are concerned that the deal could open the door to hormone-treated beef.

"How do we know what they are investing in?" he said, speaking on BBC Radio 4's "Today".

However, the government said maintaining UK food standards is a strict red line during negotiations and that certification procedures and border checks will ensure that hormonal-raised beef does not enter the UK.

Chief Secretary Darren Jones "The food standard rules have not changed and will not change because of this deal," said.

He added that the agency responsible for sanitation and plant mating will be able to test hormone traces in meat and have "consequences" for anyone who violates the law.

Britain stopped allowing hormone-producing beef in 1989, when the EU declared the practice unsafe.

But many American farmers use growth hormone as a standard part of their beef production. Increasing growth hormones will keep cows on muscle mass, thus making beef cheaper.

The United States and other countries that use the method, including Australia, say hormone-fed beef does not increase health risks.

But many consumers are wary of this, with some online comments looking for beef produced in the UK in the future.

As part of the trade deal, the UK agreed to allow imports of up to 13,000 tons of beef from the U.S. duty-free. The United States currently exports about 1,000 tons to the UK at a 20% tariff, the United States has exported about 1,000 tons to the UK.

In exchange, the UK will also be able to sell more beef to the United States, with tariffs also priced at 13,000 tons lower than it is currently available.

The deal also includes tariffs on exports of British cars and U.S. ethanol to the UK in the U.S. market.

The group’s founder Liz Webster responded to McCubbine’s fear in a post posted on X.

“In exchange for tariffs on luxury cars, we have opened our doors to our beef and ethanol.

"However, since our border checks are hardly running, how we will implement the standards is anyone's guess," she wrote.

Defra said U.S. producers must develop monitoring and certification procedures to prove that they meet UK food standards and can be allowed to export.

A Defra spokesman said that hormones are often used in fat cattle in the later stages of production, so traces can be identified through examination.

The National Migrant Union said it is checking details of the trade agreement with Defra, asking them to provide more information on how imported meat inspections will continue to ensure that safety standards are maintained.