| The state of Kansas is trying to ban rBGH-free labels, just like several other states have tried to do over the past year. The newspaper headlines coming from Kansas on this are depressing.
An editorial appeared in the Hays Daily News November 16 that said the following:
First and foremost, cows apparently produce such growth hormones naturally. So even analysis in the laboratory cannot distinguish milk that comes from a "normal" cow or an artificially stimulated cow. So any label would be meaningless. ...
And if such acceptable guidance is determined, it more than likely would require extensive paper trails and an additional cadre of enforcement personnel to visit individual dairy farms. Since it is estimated more than 80 percent of state farmers do not use the artificial production boosters, those additional costs likely would be shared by consumers to monitor a minority of producers. ...
While we believe in full disclosure to consumers, we're not sure the proposed label will serve any real purpose. We get the feeling the Kansas Department of Agriculture doesn't either. In fact, it is accepting public comment at this time and will have a public hearing Dec. 2 in Topeka to discuss the matter.
Whoa, excuse me? Yes cows produce hormones naturally. No they don't produce SO MUCH of the hormones naturally. And yes the levels of one hormone in particular, IGF-1, do go up drastically in the milk when cows are treated with rBGH. IGF-1 is linked to cancer in humans.
Kansas, please speak up for your right to know how your food was produced! Take action by writing Gov. Sebelius and the Kansas Dept of Ag. |
