Also see: Monsanto's Hidden Hand Encourages Protest KGW 18feb2005
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What is Bovine Growth Hormone? Posilac® bovine somatotropin (bST) is also known as Recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH). Recombinant means that its genes have been recombined (artificially manipulated), also know as genetically engineered or genetically modified. |
PORTLAND — After consumer complaints, the nation's No. 2 maker of chunk cheese has banned a genetically engineered growth hormone made by Monsanto for dairy cows.
The Tillamook County Creamery Association said yesterday it has asked all of its 147-member farmers to halt use of the recombinant bovine somatotropin hormone, or rBST, despite pressure from Monsanto.
"After a nearly two-year process of developing and implementing a policy requiring our dairy suppliers to forgo the use of artificial bovine growth hormone, Tillamook County Creamery Association is facing an aggressive intrusion by Monsanto into the association's decision-making process," the association said in a prepared release.
The rBST hormone, sold under the brand name Posilac, is used to boost milk production in dairy cows.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the hormone in 1993, allowing one of the first major biotechnology-related products to enter the nation's food supply.
But demand for milk and dairy products labeled rBST-free has continued to grow, said Rick North, spokesman for Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility.
"We're really very appreciative they're taking this step," North said of Tillamook.
The medical group estimates that about 10 percent to 15 percent of dairy farmers are using the hormone on their herds nationally, and the figure is about the same in Oregon.
Christie Lincoln, spokeswoman for Tillamook, said the decision to ban the hormone was driven by consumers.
"Consumers of Tillamook dairy products expect Tillamook to do the right thing," she said. "They're asking us to remove the recombinant bovine hormone from our product, and we're just responding to that."
Calls and e-mails to Monsanto headquarters in St. Louis were not returned yesterday.
PORTLAND, OR - The No. 2 maker of chunk cheese in the nation has banned a genetically engineered growth hormone made by Monsanto Co. for dairy cows after consumer complaints.
The Tillamook County Creamery Association said Friday it has asked all of its 147 member farmers to halt use of the recombinant bovine somatotropin hormone, or rBST, despite pressure from Monsanto.
"After a nearly two-year process of developing and implementing a policy requiring our dairy suppliers to forgo the use of artificial bovine growth hormone, Tillamook County Creamery Association is facing an aggressive intrusion by Monsanto into the association's decision-making process," the association said in a prepared release.
The rBST hormone, sold under the brand name Posilac, is used to boost milk production in dairy cows.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the hormone in 1993, allowing one of the first major biotechnology-related products to enter the nation's food supply.
But demand for milk and dairy products labeled rBST-free has continued to grow, said Rick North, spokesman for Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility.
"We're really very appreciative they're taking this step," North said of Tillamook.
The medical group estimates that about 10 percent to 15 percent of dairy farmers are using the hormone on their herds nationally, and the figure is about the same in Oregon.
Christie Lincoln, spokeswoman for Tillamook said Friday the decision to ban the hormone was driven by consumers.
"Consumers of Tillamook dairy products expect Tillamook to do the right thing," she said. "They're asking us to remove the recombinant bovine hormone from our product, and we're just responding to that."
In its statement, the creamery association said "Monsanto has been especially vigorous in trying to dissuade" the dairy cooperative from banning the hormone, and accused the company of trying "to drive a wedge" between the association and its members.
"In November, Consuelo Madere, president of Monsanto Dairy Business, took the extraordinary step of sending a letter directly to (Tillamook) members questioning the policy and seeking its reversal," the association said.
"The letter's intrusion into the co-op's internal affairs pales in comparison to Monsanto's unprecedented effort in the past two weeks to divide Tillamook's dairy farmers over the issue," the association said.
The dairy cooperative said that Monsanto sent an attorney from the Washington, D.C., law firm of King & Spalding to Oregon to meet with more than a dozen co-op members. The attorney, James Dabney Miller, has represented Monsanto on rBST issues, including its FDA approval, the association said.
Miller helped some association members prepare an amendment to the co-op's bylaws that would prevent the ban. The amendment also requested a special meeting that is expected to be scheduled with the next two weeks, the association said.
Calls and e-mails to Monsanto headquarters in St. Louis were not returned Friday.
ON THE NET
PORTLAND — After consumer complaints, the nation's No. 2 maker of chunk cheese has banned a genetically engineered growth hormone made by Monsanto for dairy cows.
The Tillamook County Creamery Association said yesterday it has asked all of its 147-member farmers to halt use of the recombinant bovine somatotropin hormone, or rBST, despite pressure from Monsanto.
"After a nearly two-year process of developing and implementing a policy requiring our dairy suppliers to forgo the use of artificial bovine growth hormone, Tillamook County Creamery Association is facing an aggressive intrusion by Monsanto into the association's decision-making process," the association said in a prepared release.
The rBST hormone, sold under the brand name Posilac, is used to boost milk production in dairy cows.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the hormone in 1993, allowing one of the first major biotechnology-related products to enter the nation's food supply.
But demand for milk and dairy products labeled rBST-free has continued to grow, said Rick North, spokesman for Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility.
"We're really very appreciative they're taking this step," North said of Tillamook.
The medical group estimates that about 10 percent to 15 percent of dairy farmers are using the hormone on their herds nationally, and the figure is about the same in Oregon.
Christie Lincoln, spokeswoman for Tillamook, said the decision to ban the hormone was driven by consumers.
"Consumers of Tillamook dairy products expect Tillamook to do the right thing," she said. "They're asking us to remove the recombinant bovine hormone from our product, and we're just responding to that."
Calls and e-mails to Monsanto headquarters in St. Louis were not returned yesterday.
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