Guest guest Posted March 2, 2005 Report Share Posted March 2, 2005 The vote was 83-43 against overturning the ban on using geneticallyengineered growth hormone in their products. Posted below are two articles. The first is from The Oregonian titled"Tillamook dairies uphold hormone ban." The second article from AssociatedPress is titled "Dairy co-op rejects Monsanto proposal to drop hormone ban."A special "thank you" goes out to everyone who participated in our recentACTION ALERT on this issue.Craig WintersPresidentThe CampaignPO Box 55699Seattle, WA 98155Tel: 425-771-4049E-mail: labelWeb Site: http://www.thecampaign.org *************************************************************** News Update From The Campaign ---------------- Dear News Update Subscribers, Good news to report! Monsanto was soundly defeated in the vote on Monday by the Tillamook County Creamery Association's dairy farmers. The vote was 83-43 against overturning the ban on using genetically engineered growth hormone in their products. Posted below are two articles. The first is from The Oregonian titled " Tillamook dairies uphold hormone ban. " The second article from Associated Press is titled " Dairy co-op rejects Monsanto proposal to drop hormone ban. " A special " thank you " goes out to everyone who participated in our recent ACTION ALERT on this issue. Craig Winters President The Campaign PO Box 55699 Seattle, WA 98155 Tel: 425-771-4049 E-mail: label Web Site: http://www.thecampaign.org *************************************************************** Tillamook dairies uphold hormone ban The creamery association rejects a change in bylaws supported by Posilac maker Monsanto Tuesday, March 01, 2005 ALEX PULASKI TILLAMOOK -- The Tillamook County Creamery Association's dairy farmers voted Monday to uphold a ban prohibiting them from vaccinating cows with an artificial growth hormone. Monday's vote of 83-43 appears to conclude a struggle between the association's board and managers, who supported the ban, and some dairies and Monsanto Co., which opposed it. Monsanto manufactures the genetically engineered growth hormone, designed to cause cows to produce more milk, under the brand name Posilac. The vote represents a victory for consumers concerned about new technologies used to boost food production, including the increased use of antibiotics and genetically modified organisms. Jim McMullen, the creamery's president and chief executive officer, said Tillamook hopes that the cooperative can quickly move beyond divisions among its 147 members. Tillamook is Oregon's most productive dairy cooperative -- and one of the state's best-known brands. " Dairymen are really strong people, " McMullen said outside a hall at the county fairgrounds, where the vote took place. The Tillamook battle over Posilac began heating up last year. The cooperative's nine-member board voted in May to phase out the hormone's use by April 1, 2005. The board based its decision on increasing inquiries by consumers over the hormone's use. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has concluded that milk derived from cows treated with the hormone is safe for human consumption, but some consumers worry about potential cancer risks and increased antibiotic use by dairies treating cows for udder infections. Though studies differ, there is evidence to suggest that cows treated with Posilac run increased risks of udder infections and lameness. Letter from Monsanto In November, a Monsanto representative wrote a letter to the company's Tillamook customers suggesting that the board's decision was ill-advised and would reduce member dairies' profits. The board reaffirmed its decision in January in response to a petition to reconsider by more than 80 member dairies. Just more than a week later, an attorney whose firm holds substantial ties to Monsanto delivered a letter to the creamery association office requesting Monday's vote by all members. Although a Monsanto spokeswoman has said the attorney was not being paid by Monsanto to intervene, the creamery association labeled his involvement " audacious " in a news release. The bylaw change voted on Monday would have amended the cooperative's bylaws to prevent its board from banning any pharmaceutical product approved by the FDA. Other suppliers involved McMullen said the next step by the creamery will be to ensure that its suppliers of butter, sour cream, yogurt and cream also are keeping Posilac from being used by their dairies. The ban affirmed Monday applies only to dairies supplying milk directly to the association. He had previously said Tillamook would not change its labeling to proclaim itself free of the hormone but Monday said that was still being explored. " There's still the issue of what's next with Monsanto, " he said, adding that he is not sure what, if anything, that company will do. On Monday, Monsanto issued a statement about the vote. " We are pleased that the producer owners of Tillamook had the opportunity to decide this for themselves and respect the choice of the majority of the producer owners, " the statement said. " For individual producers, it is unfortunate that their choice to use a product that has provided a significant economic benefit for many Tillamook family farms has been limited. " We hope that in time Tillamook producers will reconsider this policy. " Tillamook, founded in 1909, had $262 million in sales in 2003. Dairy members who supported the ban on Posilac said Monday that they were relieved that the vote to change the bylaws had failed. " If we're going to market a top product, we're going to have to provide what the consumer is asking for, " said Brad Cowan of Astoria. But others who opposed the ban, including Bob Northrop of Tillamook, said they stand to lose thousands of dollars in income because their cows will produce less milk. Northrop said he believes the hormone has no ill effects on humans or cattle. Jim Wilson of Tillamook, who also opposed the ban, said he worries that dairy farmers will face further restrictions on the products they can employ. " What's the next thing we won't be able to use? " he asked. *************************************************************** Dairy co-op rejects Monsanto proposal to drop hormone ban By WILLIAM McCALL The Associated Press PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Dairy farmers whose cows provide milk for the second largest producer of chunk cheese in the nation voted Monday to ban a Monsanto Co. hormone on schedule, rejecting pressure from the chemical company. The Tillamook County Creamery Association said its members voted 83-43 in favor of the ban on recombinant bovine somatotropin hormone, or rBST. " I think this is a confirmation that our members believe in us, " said Christie Lincoln, association spokeswoman in Tillamook. " We are a consumer-driven company, so we're keeping consumers in mind. " A Monsanto spokeswoman said the company hopes the dairy farmers will reconsider. " For individual producers, it is unfortunate that their choice to use a product that has provided a significant economic benefit for many Tillamook family farms has been limited, " said Jennifer Garrett at Monsanto headquarters in St. Louis. The dairy association's board voted last May to phase out the hormone, sold under the brand name Posilac, following consumer complaints. It was one of the first major biotechnology-related products to enter the nation's food supply when it was approved in 1993 by the Food and Drug Administration to boost milk production in dairy cows. Lincoln said the dairy association had been under intense pressure recently from Monsanto to withdraw the proposed ban. She noted the company sent its attorneys to Oregon to propose an amendment to association bylaws that would have prevented the ban. But 126 of the 147 co-op members met in a special session Monday at the Tillamook County Fairgrounds to discuss the issue and cast their votes to reject the amendment. The ban will be fully implemented by April 1. Rick North, spokesman for Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility, called the Tillamook ban a victory for consumers. " They're not only doing the right thing, they're doing the smart thing, " North said of the co-op vote. " This should be great for their business. " The medical organization estimates that up to 15 percent of dairy farmers are using the rBST hormone on their herds in Oregon and nationally. North noted the hormone is banned in a number of other countries as concerns have increased among doctors and scientists. Canada rejected Monsanto attempts to win regulatory approval for Posilac after a Canadian Veterinary Medical Association panel concluded in 1998 that cows ran a 50 percent higher risk of lameness in the feet and legs using Posilac. Tillamook, which had 2003 sales of $260 million, is the nation's second-largest maker of chunk cheese behind Kraft Foods Inc. Tillamook makes cheese, sour cream, butter and other dairy products. Tillamook County Creamery Association: http://www.tillamookcheese.com --------- To be d from the News Update from The Campaign mailing list simply below http://www.thecampaign.org/cgi-bin/sment/s.cgi?r=1 & l=2 & e=namaska7=:aol.com AOL USERS: <a href= " http://www.thecampaign.org/cgi-bin/sment/s.cgi?r=1 & l=2 & e=namaska7=:aol.com\ " >One-Click Un Link Here</a> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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