Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
and regulatory agencies, and so we are skeptical of the con-
spiracy theory. Some readers of the topic
The World According
to Monsanto
and viewers of the documentary
Ethos
might feel
otherwise, and seek to avoid rBST milk. It certainly seems that
the general public is more skeptical of rBST milk than our col-
leagues in agricultural colleges.
Have you noticed that milk often comes with the label, “This
milk is from cows not treated with rBST,” which is then fol-
lowed by the statement, “The Food and Drug Administration
has determined there is no significant difference between milk
from rBST treated cows and non-rBST treated cows,” a dis-
claimer recommended by the FDA to prevent the seller from
being accused of false advertising? These seemingly conflicting
statements reflect the desire of some farms to meet consumer
demand for rBST-free milk and the FDA's belief that there is
no legitimate reason for consumers to demand such a product.
The FDA does not represent all of government, though. The
Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals (ruling on whether Ohio should
ban the labeling of rBST-free milk) concluded that rBST and
non-rBST milk are materially different. The presence of the label
saying the cows were not given rBST does stigmatize conven-
tional milk, research has shown, making some people feel milk
without the label unsafe. This is one battle food activists largely
won, as most milk producers now prefer to sell rBST-free milk.
Consumer sentiment has opposed the rBST hormone with
much greater intensity than synthetic growth hormones in
beef cattle. Why? Probably because rBST involves genetically
modified organisms (GMOs), something food activists par-
ticularly dislike. And the louder food activists shout, the more
consumers listen to them. Although more than 90 percent of
beef cattle receive synthetic hormones, that percentage for
dairy cows is less than 25 percent.
Antibiotics and Livestock
You come down with a cold, so you go to the doctor. Most colds
are caused by viruses, not bacteria, but some doctors prescribe
