February 28th, 2008
A U.S. Department of Agriculture survey in 2007 determined that about 15% of dairy farms use rBST and 17% of cows are injected. That’s down from 22% of cows in 2002. Large farms are far more likely to use rBST than small farms.
As part of its Campaign for Safe Food, the Oregon chapter of Physicians for Social Responsibility has compiled a growing list of companies that have gone partially or completely rBGH-free. Project Director Richard North estimates that 40-50% of milk on the market today is rBGH-free and 6-7% is organic. (link below)
“Organic sales have been growing fast on a percentage basis, but it’s still a small drop in the bucket overall,” says Chris Galen. “This is a way for marketers to capture sort of an organic lite product without having to pay the higher price for true certified organic dairy products.”
RESEARCH SHOWS RISKS; HEALTH EFFECTS UNCERTAIN
To complicate this controversy, the public health research on rBGH is far from black and white.
The FDA continues to maintain that there is no difference in the nutrition or safety of milk from rBST-treated vs. untreated cows.
Other studies – mostly conducted in other countries — have failed to find conclusive evidence of dangers to human health. Still, a cadre of environmental, public health and consumer advocates are advising us to play it safe. Suspected health risks have stopped other industrialized countries from approving rBGH, including Canada, Japan, Australia and European Union nations.
In addition to the Oregon PSR, some of the key US organizations raising a red flag include the Center for Food Safety, Food & Water Watch and the Consumers Union.
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