Tell Governor Sebelius to Protect Your Right to Know!

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Tell Governor Sebelius to Protect Your Right to Know!

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Last week, despite strong citizen and farmer opposition, the Kansas state

legislature passed a bill that would limit a farmer’s right to tell their

customers about the way they produce milk. Kansas House Bill 2121 included

language specifying that, " dairy products promoted as being produced by cows

that

don't receive injections of artificial bovine growth hormone, also known as

rbST or rBGH, would have to include a disclaimer on the label. "

 

The required disclaimer would read: **the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

has determined there are no significant differences between milk from cows

that receive injections of the artificial hormone and milk from those that do

not. " That statement is based on an 18-year-old FDA review; however, FDA’s

own publications, as well as subsequent scientific studies have shown that

there are significant differences, some of which may affect human health. The

Kansas bill also goes against long-established Federal policy as outlined by

the

FDA in a July 27, 1994 letter to New York Department of Agriculture and

Markets: " The bottom line is that a contextual statement is not required...and

in

no instance is the specific statement 'No significant difference has been

shown...' required by FDA.**

 

In addition, the Legislature tacked on the dairy labeling rules of HB 2295

as a rider on HB 2121 without a hearing in the Senate Agriculture Committee.

This denied the numerous opponents of labeling restrictions the chance to

testify. Even with the lack of proper debate, the bill barely passed the Senate

by a 22-15 vote, just two votes short of failing, demonstrating that there is

barely a mandate for labeling changes in Kansas.

 

Due to growing consumer demand, companies are removing rbGH from their dairy

products across the country. In addition, over 160 hospitals all over the

country have pledged to serve rbGH-free products and the past president of the

American Medical Association said in a letter to all AMA members that

hospitals should serve only milk produced without rbGH. And, more than half of

the

100 largest dairy processors in the country have gone partially or completely

rbGH-free to satisfy consumer demand.

 

Tell Governor Sebelius, our future Secretary of the Department of Health and

Human Services, which houses the Food and Drug Administration, to head into

her new position on the right foot by vetoing this unnecessary and unwanted

bill!

 

Talking Points

Please edit the letter below to personalize your message.If you can,

download your letter and fax or mail it, too - but please do it right away, the

Governor only has 10 days to veto the bil!

 

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

 

 

Below is the sample letter:

 

 

Veto HB 2121

 

Dear [decision maker name automatically inserted here],

 

I urge you to veto HB 2121. This bill severely restricts consumers' right to

know what is in their milk. Consumers want and deserve to know if their milk

contains artificial hormones, but this bill makes it much more difficult for

consumers to make accurate choices.

 

Although I am not from Kansas, I am your future constituent if you become

the secretary of Health and Human Services. The FDA has already established

labeling guidelines for rBGH-free products. Show the country that you stand up

for consumers by vetoing this bill before coming to Washington.

 

Since the FDA's controversial decision to approve the use of rbGH, questions

have only grown about its safety for humans. HR 2121 interferes with

consumers' right to know what is in their food and how it's produced and

farmers and

dairies have the right to tell us.

 

The required disclaimer would read: " the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

has determined there are no significant differences betwe en milk from cows

that receive injections of the artificial hormone and milk from those that do

not. " That statement is based on an 18-year-old FDA review; however, FDA's

own publications, as well as subsequent scientific studies have shown that

there are significant differences, some of which may affect human health. The

Kansas bill also goes against long-established Federal policy as outlined by

the

FDA in a July 27, 1994 letter to New York Department of Agriculture and

Markets: " The bottom line is that a contextual statement is not required...and

in

no instance is the specific statement 'No significant difference has been

shown...' required by FDA. "

 

Due to growing consumer demand, companies are removing rbGH from their dairy

products across the country. In addition, over 160 hospitals all over the

country have pledged to serve rbGH-free products and the past president of the

American Medical Association said in a letter to all AMA members that

hospitals should serv e only milk produced without rbGH.

 

At a time when consumers, dairies, health care, schools, and companies are

increasingly rejecting milk containing rBGH, HB 2121 is a step in the wrong

direction.

 

Its important to protect our right to know what is in the milk we buy.

Please veto HB 2121.

 

 

Sincerely,

 

Your name

 

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