rBGH is recombinant bovine growth hormone, also called recombinant bovine  
somatotropin (rBST). It is produced by gene-spliced, genetically engineered  
bacteria and then injected into cows to make them produce more milk. 
Monsanto  produced rBGH for a number of years, but recently sold the rights to the 
product  to another company.--Tom
 ===========================================================================
==
 
 
http://www.lavidalocavore.org/diary/4056/big-victory-against-rbgh
Big Victory Against rbGH!
(EDITED)


Remember way back when when several states tried to ban  "rbGH-free" claims 
on dairy? This was a few years ago now. Monsanto, who owned  rbGH at the 
time, helped found a group of rbGH-loving dairy farmers called  AFACT. AFACT 
then pushed to ban any label claims telling consumers which milk  came from 
cows that had not been treated with rbGH. Naturally, that sparked tons  of 
consumer outrage, and ultimately AFACT was unsuccessful in most states where  
they tried this.

Save for Ohio.


Ohio was the one last state where it looked like they  might win. 
Ultimately the fight went to the courts. Today brought BIG news of a  court decision 
in Ohio. The less significant news out of the court is that milk  in Ohio 
can still say "rbGH-free" but it must also contain an FDA disclaimer  saying 
"[t]he FDA has determined that no significant difference has been shown  
between milk derived from rbST-supplemented and non-rbST-supplemented  cows."

Now, here's the BIG news. The court challenged the  FDA's finding that 
there is "no measurable compositional difference" between  milk from 
rbGH-treated cows and milk from untreated cows. According to those who  have worked on 
this issue for nearly two decades now (maybe more), the FDA's  claim that 
there was no compositional difference between milk from rbGH-treated  and 
untreated cows was THE MAJOR roadblock to any good regulation. And the court  
finally struck it down, citing three reasons why the milk differs: 1. 
Increased  levels of the hormone IGF-1, 2. A period of milk with lower nutritional 
quality  during each lactation, and 3. Increased somatic cell counts (i.e. 
more pus in  the milk).


Amazing how it only took 17 years to get the truth  legally recognized.


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