Fwd: Pennsylvania Restricts rBGH-Free Dairy Labels

[Guest guest]

Another blow for the dairy industry...Check out AOL Money Finance's list of the hottest products and top money wasters of 2007.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pennsylvania Restricts rBGH-Free Dairy Labels

 

 

Dear Celia,

 

 

Your Right to Know: Pennsylvania Restricts rBGH-Free

Dairy Labels

Several large dairy producers and food companies have made

news recently by getting rid of recombinant bovine growth

hormone, also known as rBGH or rBST, from their milk supply.

This is great news for consumers, since this genetically

engineered growth hormone is known to cause harm to cows and may

pose health risks to humans. But in Pennsylvania, things

appear to be going backwards.

FDA approved the use of voluntary labels more than 12 years

ago at the request of dairy companies seeking to respond to

customer concerns over the use of the genetically engineered

hormone. Earlier this year Monsanto, the company that makes rBGH

under the trade name Posilac, pressured the FDA to restrict the

use of labels identifying “rBGH-free” or

“rBST-free” dairy products, claiming such labels are

"misleading" to consumers. FDA rightly refused

Monsanto’s request to restrict consumers’ right to

know, but now the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA)

seems to following Monsanto’s lead. In October, the PDA

announced new regulations that appear to prohibit any kind of

rBGH-free labeling on dairy products, including "rBGH

(rBST)-Free" and wording such as "Our farmers pledge not to use

.. . ." Pennsylvania's actions have spurred similar

discussions in Ohio and New Jersey, and other states may be

next! Please take action now to stop this in

Pennsylvania!Consumers want more information about the

foods they buy and feed to their families – not less.

rBGH-Free labels are not “misleading,” they fill an

important gap in knowledge about how our dairy products are

produced.

Protect Your Right to Know! send an email to Governor Rendell to

him know you do not find rBGH-free labels to be

“misleading,” and you do not want their use

restricted!

 

 

If the links in this email do not work, copy and paste

the following URL directly into your browser's address bar: http://ga3.org/campaign/PA_rBGH

 

 

 

Send a letter to the following decision maker(s):

 

Governor Ed Rendell

 

 

Below is the sample letter:

 

Don't take away my right to know about rBGH

Dear [decision maker name automatically inserted here],

 

I am writing to voice my opposition to recent moves by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture to restrict dairy producers from labeling milk as produced without recombinant bovine growth hormone. Many consumers object to this hormone, known as rBGH or rBST. I have a right to know if this artificial hormone was used in the production of the dairy products I buy, and I believe dairy companies should be able to inform customers of this fact.The use of rBGH is concerning because it causes infections and other problems in cows. These infections lead to the use of more antibiotics, which could contribute to the major problem of antibiotic resistant bacteria. There are also many unresolved questions concerning the use of this artificial hormone and links to some types of cancers, particularly breast, prostate, and lung.FDA approved the use of voluntary labels more than 12 years ago at the request of dairy companies seeking to respond to customer concerns over the use of the genetically engineered hormone. Earlier this year Monsanto, the company that makes rBGH under the trade name Posilac, pressured the FDA to restrict the use of labels identifying "rBGH-free" or "rBST-free" dairy products, but FDA rightly refused to do so. Pennsylvania should be no different. Consumers want more information about the foods we buy and feed to our families - not less. rBGH-free labels are not "misleading," or "confusing," they fill an important gap in knowledge about how our dairy products are produced. In fact, an April 2007 Lake Research Partners national survey shows that eight in ten adults (80%) feel dairy products originating from cows that have not been treated with rBGH should be allowed to be labeled as such. I urge you to recognize the importance of these food labels to consumers and producers, and not to restrict the use of rBGH-free labeling. Denying consumers information they rely on about how their milk was produced leaves consumers shopping in the dark. If PDA and the state of Pen

nsylvania are so concerned about ensuring consumers have "the information they need to make informed choices," restricting such labeling is not the way to accomplish that. Pennsylvania has the chance to set an example for other states on this issue - please take advantage of this attention and ensure consumers' right to know about what the dairy products they buy and feed to their families.

 

 

Sincerely,

 

Celia Browne

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Take Action!

 

 

 

Instructions:

 

Click here to take action on this issue

 

 

Tell-A-Friend:

 

Visit the web address below to tell your friends about this.

 

Tell-a-Friend!

 

 

 

What's At Stake:

 

 

 

 

 

Campaign Expiration Date:

 

January 1, 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you received this message from a friend, you can

sign up for Center for Food Safety.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

the rule has been shelved.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07332/837268-85.stm

 

RealSimple , cyndikrall wrote:

>

> Another blow for the dairy industry...

>

>

>

> **************************************Check out AOL's list of 2007's hottest

> products.

> (http://money.aol.com/special/hot-products-2007?NCID=aoltop00030000000001)

>

> Dear Celia,

>

> Your Right to Know: Pennsylvania Restricts rBGH-Free Dairy

> Labels

>

> Several large dairy producers and food companies have made news

> recently by getting rid of recombinant bovine growth hormone,

> also known as rBGH or rBST, from their milk supply. This is

> great news for consumers, since this genetically engineered

> growth hormone is known to cause harm to cows and may pose

> health risks to humans. But in Pennsylvania, things appear to be

> going backwards.

>

> FDA approved the use of voluntary labels more than 12 years ago

> at the request of dairy companies seeking to respond to customer

> concerns over the use of the genetically engineered hormone.

> Earlier this year Monsanto, the company that makes rBGH under

> the trade name Posilac, pressured the FDA to restrict the use of

> labels identifying " rBGH-free " or " rBST-free " dairy products,

> claiming such labels are " misleading " to consumers. FDA rightly

> refused Monsanto's request to restrict consumers' right to know,

> but now the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) seems

> to following Monsanto's lead. In October, the PDA announced new

> regulations that appear to prohibit any kind of rBGH-free

> labeling on dairy products, including " rBGH (rBST)-Free " and

> wording such as " Our farmers pledge not to use . . . "

> Pennsylvania's actions have spurred similar discussions in Ohio

> and New Jersey, and other states may be next! Please take action

> now to stop this in Pennsylvania!

>

> Consumers want more information about the foods they buy and

> feed to their families - not less. rBGH-Free labels are not

> " misleading, " they fill an important gap in knowledge about how

> our dairy products are produced.

>

> Protect Your Right to Know! Send an email to Governor Rendell to

> him know you do not find rBGH-free labels to be " misleading, "

> and you do not want their use restricted!

> TAKE ACTION NOW AT http://ga3.org/campaign/PA_rBGH

>

> You can take action on this alert via the web at:

> http://ga3.org/campaign/PA_rBGH/83wkbds4477mew5j?

>

> Visit the web address below to tell your friends about this.

> http://ga3.org/campaign/PA_rBGH/forward/83wkbds4477mew5j?

>

> We encourage you to take action by January 1, 2008

>

> Pennsylvania Restricts rBGH-Free Dairy Labels

>

> INSTRUCTIONS TO RESPOND VIA THE WEB:

> If you have access to a web browser, you can take action on this

> alert by going to the following URL:

>

> http://ga3.org/campaign/PA_rBGH/83wkbds4477mew5j?

>

> Your letter will be addressed and sent to:

> Governor Ed Rendell

>

> ----THIS LETTER WILL BE SENT IN YOUR NAME----

> Dear [decision maker name automatically inserted here],

>

> I am writing to voice my opposition to recent moves by the

> Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture to restrict dairy

> producers from labeling milk as produced without recombinant

> bovine growth hormone. Many consumers object to this hormone,

> known as rBGH or rBST. I have a right to know if this artificial

> hormone was used in the production of the dairy products I buy,

> and I believe dairy companies should be able to inform customers

> of this fact.

>

> The use of rBGH is concerning because it causes infections and

> other problems in cows. These infections lead to the use of more

> antibiotics, which could contribute to the major problem of

> antibiotic resistant bacteria. There are also many unresolved

> questions concerning the use of this artificial hormone and

> links to some types of cancers, particularly breast, prostate,

> and lung.

>

> FDA approved the use of voluntary labels more than 12 years ago

> at the request of dairy companies seeking to respond to customer

> concerns over the use of the genetically engineered hormone.

> Earlier this year Monsanto, the company that makes rBGH under

> the trade name Posilac, pressured the FDA to restrict the use of

> labels identifying " rBGH-free " or " rBST-free " dairy products,

> but FDA rightly refused to do so. Pennsylvania should be no

> different.

>

> Consumers want more information about the foods we buy and feed

> to our families - not less. rBGH-free labels are not

> " misleading, " or " confusing, " they fill an important gap in

> knowledge about how our dairy products are produced. In fact, an

> April 2007 Lake Research Partners national survey shows that

> eight in ten adults (80%) feel dairy products originating from

> cows that have not been treated with rBGH should be allowed to

> be labeled as such.

>

> I urge you to recognize the importance of these food labels to

> consumers and producers, and not to restrict the use of

> rBGH-free labeling. Denying consumers information they rely on

> about how their milk was produced leaves consumers shopping in

> the dark. If PDA and the state of Pennsylvania are so concerned

> about ensuring consumers have " the information they need to make

> informed choices, " restricting such labeling is not the way to

> accomplish that. Pennsylvania has the chance to set an example

> for other states on this issue - please take advantage of this

> attention and ensure consumers' right to know about what the

> dairy products they buy and feed to their families.

>

> ----END OF LETTER TO BE SENT----

>

> Sincerely,

> Celia Browne

>

> -----------------

>

> If you received this message from a friend, you can sign up for

> Center for Food Safety at:

>

> http://ga3.org/cfs/join.html?r=h7eN459q8PpQE

>

> -----------------

>

> This message was sent to cyndikrall To modify your email

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> http://ga3.org/cfs/smp.tcl?nkey=83wkbds4477mew5j &

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