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| rBST-free milk boom is driven by consumer demand for change |
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Though the controversy over the use of a genetically modified dairy hormone, bovine somatotropin or rBST, has been dormant for a decade, the issue is alive and hot once again. <br>
More and more Americans, particularly new parents, are refusing to buy conventional milk that has been treated with it. <br>
Inspite of the fact that agribusinesses insist that rBST-treated milk is completely safe, young mothers are playing it cautious – resulting in the 25 percent increase in organic milk sales, and a hefty growth in sales of hormone-free milk as well.<br>
So what is rBST? Essentially, it’s an artificial sex hormone made by Monsanto to force cows to give more milk. Since consumers naturally prefer not to have hormone additives in their families’ milk, organic producers and others who don’t use it on their cows have been labeling their milk as free of Monsanto’s
hormone, thus giving consumers a clear choice.<br>
A detailed inquiry by both the UK Veterinary Products Committee (VPC) and the Report of the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association Expert Panel on rBST concluded that: “the use of bovine somatotropin adversely affects the health and welfare of the cow.”<br>
It has been proven that in cattle receiving rBST injections, there are increases in the incidence of: mastitis by 25 percent, lameness by 50 percent and infertility by 18 percent and adverse reactions at the injection site such as the presence of lesions have often not fully regressed before the next injection is due.’<br>
U.S. farmers are under attack by special interest groups? No, I think that is just some propaganda that Monsanto and some of their “agribusiness partners” would have us believe, so their bottom lines look better. <br>
Kroger and Dean Foods are simply responding to what their consumers want.<br>
Clearly, food that is produced without genetically modified organisms, including rBST, and toxic chemicals is becoming more in demand all of the time. Many people will gladly pay a premium for food that has been raised and processed without the use of these hormones. For farmers, this seems like an opportunity to delve into a market for more naturally-grown food.<br>
It would be interesting to know whom Senators Jackman and Nugent receive contributions from. Seems like they represent Monsanto and big business pretty well. Although I’m not so sure about their ordinary constituents though.<br> |
| 3/5/2008 |
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