The Pennsylvania Government Thinks You Are Too Dumb to Make Your Own Shopping Choices
As of January 1, 2008, Pennsylvania will ban all labels on milk and dairy products that indicated they come from cows that havent been treated with artificial bovine growth hormone, also know as rBGH or rBST. State officials say that such labels are confusing.
Farmers use artificial bovine growth hormone to increase milk production. The U.S. government has long maintained that it is safe, but it is illegal in many other countries. Many American consumers dislike the idea of milk that comes from cows that are treated with artificial hormones, and many national grocery store chains have begun offering rBGH-free options, or stopped selling milk from rBGH-treated cows entirely.
In reaction, Monsanto, which manufactures rBGH, has spent more than a decade trying to persuade federal and state authorities to ban non-rBGH labels, and they have now managed to convince Dennis Wolff, Pennsylvanias agriculture secretary to play it their way.
Wolff argues that hormone free labels are misleading, as cows produce hormones naturally. But even labels that are more carefully worded, such as contains no artificial hormones will be banned in Pennsylvania because Mr. Wolff says that there is no scientific test which can verify such a claim.
The ban will also extend to phrases such as pesticide free and antibiotic free. Wolff says such labels are confusing for consumers because they suggest milk without those labels is unsafe.
Monsanto has continued to maintain that rBGH is completely safe, despite the fact that research has found the opposite to be true. Europe and Canada has banned it completely due to its health risks, as its been found to increase the levels of cancer causing chemicals in the milk.
As of January 1, 2008, Pennsylvania will ban all labels on milk and dairy products that indicated they come from cows that havent been treated with artificial bovine growth hormone, also know as rBGH or rBST. State officials say that such labels are confusing.
Farmers use artificial bovine growth hormone to increase milk production. The U.S. government has long maintained that it is safe, but it is illegal in many other countries. Many American consumers dislike the idea of milk that comes from cows that are treated with artificial hormones, and many national grocery store chains have begun offering rBGH-free options, or stopped selling milk from rBGH-treated cows entirely.
In reaction, Monsanto, which manufactures rBGH, has spent more than a decade trying to persuade federal and state authorities to ban non-rBGH labels, and they have now managed to convince Dennis Wolff, Pennsylvanias agriculture secretary to play it their way.
Wolff argues that hormone free labels are misleading, as cows produce hormones naturally. But even labels that are more carefully worded, such as contains no artificial hormones will be banned in Pennsylvania because Mr. Wolff says that there is no scientific test which can verify such a claim.
The ban will also extend to phrases such as pesticide free and antibiotic free. Wolff says such labels are confusing for consumers because they suggest milk without those labels is unsafe.
Monsanto has continued to maintain that rBGH is completely safe, despite the fact that research has found the opposite to be true. Europe and Canada has banned it completely due to its health risks, as its been found to increase the levels of cancer causing chemicals in the milk.