Hormone Free Milk Labels BANNED!
November 15th, 2007 Posted in Healthy Eating, Non Toxic Living, Organics, Politics, This n ThatNo, this is not a joke. I’ve been stewing over this for a number of days now. I just can’t figure out who had to be asleep at the wheel for this to happen.
The Agriculture Department of Pennsylvania has deemed that milk labels that state “rBST-free” or “hormone free” are no longer permitted. Do you want to know the reasoning behind this? Hold on to your hats. Here is a direct quote from Monsanto spokesman, Michael Doane, in speaking about the hormone free label, ”implies to consumers, who may or may not be informed on these issues, that
there’s a health-and-safety difference between these two milks, that
there’s ‘good’ milk and ‘bad’ milk, and we know that’s not the case.”
And if you are wondering what Monsanto has to do with PA dairy regulations….maybe it has to do with their request to the FTC to take action against dairies using “hormone free” labels. Their request was denied. But they obviously have friends in high PA places.
Monsanto, the only manufacturer of rBST (also known as recombinant bovine growth hormone - rBGH) also sued a small Maine dairy back in 2003 due to their “hormone free” labeling practices. Monsanto claimed…guess what? The same exact claims made by the Pennsylvania Agriculture Dept. I am looking into if they won the suit or not.
The rBST hormone has been approved in the US since 1994 but is is banned in the European Union, Canada, Australia and Japan. Under FDA policy, food companies are allowed to make claims on labels that they do not use rBST, as long they do not “mislead consumers” to believe milk from cows without rBST is safer or of higher quality.
So Monsanto is sleeping with the PA government. It is said that Ohio is also looking into a similar ban. Please contact your representatives and let them know that if THEY too sleep with Monsanto, that you will not support them!
3 Responses to “Hormone Free Milk Labels BANNED!”
By Jenny on Nov 16, 2007
What terribly news. It’s so disappointing that government–which should be for the people–continually endangers them by hopping into bed with corporations like Monsanto. Things like this reinforce the importance knowing where your food comes from and buying directly from the farmer if possible.
We get our milk through a cow share, and I know when the cows were milked last, what they eat, how they’re treated and even their names. It offers some measure of security.
By Lauren on Nov 16, 2007
I keep meaning to look into a local cow sharing program! Maybe this is the kick in the pants I need. At the very least, one knows that Monsanto had little to do with the milk served in your home. A huge relief IME.
By randy j kennedy on Jan 19, 2008
raw milk was consumed by millions of people before louie pastuer thought that raw milk would make us sick. by the way he repented of inventing pasteurization and said he was wrong. why doesnt the fda take heed to this? $$$$$$$$$$$$