Pro

The National Consumers League wrote in a Jan. 5, 2007 letter to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that:

“A number of milk processors have begun to label their products as ‘hormone free,’ ‘rbST free,’ or ‘rBGH free,’ to indicate they come from cows that have not been treated with recombinant bovine somatotropin (rbST). We understand that consumers are charged a significant premium for these milk products. The clear implication of these claims, reinforced by the price premium, is that such products are safer or healthier than ‘regular’ milk.

This practice is in conflict with FDA’s determination that milk from cows treated with rbST is no different, in terms of health and safety, from milk from untreated cows. These label claims also appear to be false or misleading under the FDA’s interpretation of the law…

FDA in 2003 issued Warning Letters to several milk processors objecting to this practice. Given its recent reappearance and increasing popularity, we suggest that FDA again consider taking action to protect consumers of an essential food.”

Jan. 5, 2007