|
|
|
2007-9-3 23:23:25 |
|
In a Jan. 17 news article, The Associate Press reported that Starbucks Coffee Co. is ending its use of milk from dairy cows injected with bovine growth hormone. According to the report, 37 percent of milk products Starbucks use now are already free of the bovine growth hormone. But it is not clear when the company will completely get rid of the milk products from hormone-injected cows. In the U.S., bovine growth hormone is legally allowed to be injected into dairy cows in lactation to promote production of milk. Hormone injection may increase milk production by 15 percent or more. Today, the AP published a "clarification" saying that a comment from Monsanto, the maker of the bovine growth hormone was supposed to be added in its Jan 17 news article but it did not explain how the comment was not added initially. Essentially, Monsanto says is that "tests cannot distinguish chemical differences in milk from cows treated with bovine growth hormone," according to the AP. The AP cited large scale dairy operators as saying that "there is no scientific evidence to suggest any effect on humans from the recombinant bovine growth hormone, (rBGH)." In grocery stores, shoppers may not see any milk labeled as rBGH-free. Only organic milk comes from cows without receiving rBGH injection. But even the USDA Organic milk may not carry an Ħ°rBGH freeĦħ statement. A few years ago, a small milk producer intended to take advantage of consumer's concern over the growth hormone's safety by labeling their milk as "rBGH freeĦħ. In response, Monsanto filed a lawsuit arguing that such a labeling statement would mislead consumers to believe that milk from rBGH injected cows is not as safe as the conventional milk. According to preventcancer.com, a non-profit organization run by Samuel S. Epstein, M.D., an Environmental Health professor, U.S. milk is banned in Europe, probably also in Canada due to the concerns over the use of rBGH. Monsanto maintains, according to the Jan 17 report, that the milk from rBGH injected cows and conventional milk are indistinguishable from each other. |
