April 13,2000

Consumer Group Launches Lawsuit Against the FDA:
A consumer group called the Center for Food Safety has launched a lawsuit against the FDA. The purpose of the lawsuit is to have Recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH) removed from the market. The CFS maintains that the Food and Drug Administration did not adequately test the drug, and allowed it on the market before taking a careful look at studies performed on rBGH.

When the FDA approved the hormone it partially relied on data provided by Monsanto, the company that manufactors and markets the hormone. Monsanto's studies claimed that after 90 days of high dosages of rBGH, the test rats showed no evidence of having absorbed the given hormone.

However, HealthCanada, the Canadian equivalent of the FDA found,"major gaps in Monsanto's human safety reviews of rBGH."  HealthCanada found that actually, 20 to 30% of the rats did absorb the growth hormone into their bloodstream, and that Monsanto's data also showed that some male rats developed cysts in their thyroid, and higher levels were detected in the prostate of the rat.

HealthCanada also assertained that the FDA's approval was," based on incorrect assumptions and the apparent cover-up of test results showing significant health impacts on test animals,". And, " Infants and children may be most at risk from rBGH milk."

Had HealthCanada not made their reports and findings public, the CFS would not have been able to go to court, to stop the marketing and usage of rBGH- until complete testing has been done.

Despite the lawsuit, Monsanto still claims that rBGH is safe for human consumption. Still, Donna Shalala, of the U.S. Health and Human Services Department, has been asked to conduct a formal investigation into the FDA's approval of rBGH.

This was taken from a 20/20 investigation done by John Mackenzie, and a Mothers and Others for a Livable Planet Press Release. For links to the full 20/20 report, as well as the Press Release go to the Reference Links page.

Recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone
(rBGH) and you...

What is rBGH?
Recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone is a genetically engineered copy of a hormone already found in cows. It is manufactured by Monsanto Company, and is sold to farmers under the name, Posilac. Posilac or rBGH causes the cows to increase their milk production by 10-15%. rBGH was approved by the FDA in 1993, and has been used since 1994.

What's the Problem?
1. rBGH is unhealthy for cows. The manufacturer lists on the label of Posilac that injections of the drug may cause a wide variety of health problems in cows. These include an increased chance for mastitis, reduced pregnancy rates, cystic ovaries, uterine disorders, digestive problems, and lacerations.
2. rBGH affects the nutritional value of milk. rBGH increases the time period when cows give a lower quality of milk, with a decreased amount of protein.
3.rBGH causes milk to sour sooner.
4. It causes an abundance of milk; more than consumers can consume. This will drive the price of milk down and ultimately force the small dairy farmer out of business.
And Finally
5. Although the jury is still out on the long term affects on humans, preliminary studies have shown that rBGH causes an increased possibility for prostate cancer and breast cancer. See related article.

What Can We Do?
The FDA has refused to require foods to be labelled when they contain food from treated cows. Several states have gone so far as to forbid food manufacturers from saying anything about rBGH on their product labels...whether for or against! Without a national labelling standard, consumers are denied the chance to make an informed decision about the dairy products they buy.
If you and your family don't want food from rBGH treated cows... talk to the dairy manager at your local supermarket. The local level is the best place to support change! Tell them you want a choice and a chance to buy rBGH free. With enough demand it will become necessary and profitable to require labelling. Or, contact your dairy product manufacturer. There is an 800 number on your milk carton, call them and find out if they use rBGH or not? If they say yes... ask them for labelling!!!
Write the FDA:
FDA
200 C Street S.W.
Washington D.C. 20204
Here's a sample:
Dear FDA,
I would prefer to buy dairy products that are not treated with rBGH. Without a national labelling policy it is impossible to do so. I urge you to adopt a national labelling policy to be adhered to in all 50 states, so that everyone can make an informed choice.  Thank you,

Ask, or write, your local school board to require school milk suppliers to buy and deliver only rBGH free milk.

Documentation for this article can be found on our reference links page. It was taken from Ben and Jerry's Food Fight Web Site.

rBGH Linked to Cancer:

Two studies published this year show an increased risk of breast and prostate cancer among people with the highest levels of insulin like growth factor (IGF-1) in their blood.
IGF-1 is found in the blood of all humans. However, the hormone is also found in the MILK from dairy cows injected with rBGH. The cow's IGF-1 is identical to that of humans. This raises concerns about the health affects of drinking milk from the rBGH treated cows, and thus increasing the levels of IGF-1 in our own bodies.
In May 1998, Lancet published a study of pre-menopausal women under the age of 51. The women with the highest levels of IGF-1 had a seven-fold increased risk of breast cancer.
In January 1998, Science found a four-fold increased risk of prostate cancer in men with the highest levels of IGF-1 in their blood.
Milk from rBGH free cows can be found in most health food stores, but it is important to keep in mind that the hormone will also be in other dairy products including:
Whipped cream, ice cream, cheese, yogurt, frozen yogurt, puddings and baked goods.(Rachaels Environment and Health Weekly. #598)
Growing for Market. October,1998
Links to the Lancet and Science magazines can be found on our reference links page.

Partial List of rBGH-free dairys:

Organic Brands:
Brookside Farm
Butternut Farms: available by mail order, 607-783-2392
Cascadian Farm: available nationwide 800-624-4123
Colombo Yogurt: ( Organic Line)
Horizon Organic: available nationwide. 888-4494-3020
Organic Valley: available nationwide. 608-625-2602
Stoneyfield Farms: available nationwide. 603-437-4040
rBGH FREE, but not organic, Brands:
Alta Dena: available nationwide. 800-535-1369
Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream: nationwide. 802-651-9600
Cascade Fresh: nationwide. 206-283-6670
Land O'Lakes Original: Midwest. 651-481-2222
Newman's Ice Cream: nationwide 802-651-9600
North Farm Cooperative: nationwide. 800-236-5880

This is not a complete list, please visit the reference links section for the link to," Mothers and Others and Rural Vermont's Milk List!" There you will find many more for your local area.

Point of Interest:
rBGH is not approved for use in Canada, France, Italy, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxemborg, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Greece, New Zealand, and Austrailia.

3 Steps to Take...
STOP! Monsanto from selling rBGH until adequate safety tests ensure our families protection. Demand that the FDA suspend Monsanto's liscense to sell rBGH. Contact FDA Acting Comissioner, Michael Friedman, M.D. with your concerns. His address is Food and Drug Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, Maryland 20857; his e-mail is mfriedman@oc.fda.gov
Start! drinking organic milk, or rBGH-free milk whenever possible.
Write! To demand that Congress investigate FDA's safety review of rBGH; obtain an independant analysis of data from Monsanto's studies, and review the actions of Monsanto and the FDA. Send letters to: Senator Patrick Leahy, United States Senate, 433 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington D.C. 20510. His e-mail is Senator_Leahy@Leahy.Senate.gov

Click on the cow to go to reference links.