important: if you live in PA, U.S.A
Your Right to Know: Pennsylvania Restricts rBGH-Free Dairy Labels
Several large dairy producers and food companies have made news recently by getting rid of recombinant bovine growth hormone, also known as rBGH or rBST, from their milk supply. This is great news for consumers, since this genetically engineered growth hormone is known to cause harm to cows and may pose health risks to humans. But in Pennsylvania, things appear to be going backwards.
FDA approved the use of voluntary labels more than 12 years ago at the request of dairy companies seeking to respond to customer concerns over the use of the genetically engineered hormone. Earlier this year Monsanto, the company that makes rBGH under the trade name Posilac, pressured the FDA to restrict the use of labels identifying "rBGH-free" or "rBST-free" dairy products, claiming such labels are "misleading" to consumers. FDA rightly refused Monsanto's request to restrict consumers' right to know, but now the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) seems to following Monsanto's lead. In October, the PDA announced new regulations that appear to prohibit any kind of rBGH-free labeling on dairy products, including "rBGH (rBST)-Free" and wording such as "Our farmers pledge not to use . . ."
Consumers want more information about the foods they buy and feed to their families - not less. rBGH-Free labels are not "misleading," they fill an important gap in knowledge about how our dairy products are produced.
Protect Your Right to Know! send an email to Govenor Rendell to let him know you do not find rBGH-free labels to be "misleading," and you do not want them to be restricted!
Several large dairy producers and food companies have made news recently by getting rid of recombinant bovine growth hormone, also known as rBGH or rBST, from their milk supply. This is great news for consumers, since this genetically engineered growth hormone is known to cause harm to cows and may pose health risks to humans. But in Pennsylvania, things appear to be going backwards.
FDA approved the use of voluntary labels more than 12 years ago at the request of dairy companies seeking to respond to customer concerns over the use of the genetically engineered hormone. Earlier this year Monsanto, the company that makes rBGH under the trade name Posilac, pressured the FDA to restrict the use of labels identifying "rBGH-free" or "rBST-free" dairy products, claiming such labels are "misleading" to consumers. FDA rightly refused Monsanto's request to restrict consumers' right to know, but now the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) seems to following Monsanto's lead. In October, the PDA announced new regulations that appear to prohibit any kind of rBGH-free labeling on dairy products, including "rBGH (rBST)-Free" and wording such as "Our farmers pledge not to use . . ."
Consumers want more information about the foods they buy and feed to their families - not less. rBGH-Free labels are not "misleading," they fill an important gap in knowledge about how our dairy products are produced.
Protect Your Right to Know! send an email to Govenor Rendell to let him know you do not find rBGH-free labels to be "misleading," and you do not want them to be restricted!