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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