I finally watched The Corporation — and am really grossed out
Most memorable part: Pus-flavored milk. The type of phrase that I think the anti-rBGH people should be using to drum up support for their cause, instead of going straight into trying to explain what rBGH is to laypeople.
Basically, lotsa cows are getting injected with rBGH (recombinant bovine growth hormone, also known as rBST) to get them to produce more milk. But rBGH also causes udder infections and stuff. So not only do you get poor cows limping along with painful, grossly-enlarged udders, you also get some of the pus from those infections squirted into your milk.
It’s a good thing I’m a lil lactose intolerant. Also, I prefer the flavor of soy…
Anyway — back to the pus-flavored milk thing, and how to get rid of the stuff. Right now, there’s a 5-year-old campaign against — you guessed it — Starbucks, to switch to organic milk. The National Week of Action’s June 19-25 — It calls campaigners to protest or leaflet local Starbucks cafes. The campaign’s organized by the Organic Consumers Association and Food and Water Watch, who say that “If Starbucks, a major buyer of milk, were to reject rBGH dairy products, we could effectively eliminate it from the market completely.”
I’ll be really honest and say that — although I’m all for organic milk — to me, it would make more sense to first target a company that sells — say — milkshakes. You know, the McFlurries company. Then again, I realize that Starbucks sells a lotta milk-containing products… I’m just curious though as to how the orgs decided on Starbucks as opposed to another multinational corp using conventional milk. Does Starbucks sell more milk than McDonald’s?
Still, the OCA’s also running a Starbucks fair trade campaign, so I’ll at least try asking for a fair trade coffee with organic milk that week, in an act of solidarity –
In the meantime — I strongly recommend that the name of the campaign be changed to No Pus in Milk campaign!
GAG!!! Pus milk…bleuch!!
Comment by Al — May 10, 2006 @ 4:59 pm
I once put yellow food coloring in regular milk ( I was 11) and it made people gag; blue didn’t do that.
On topic: Tillamook brand cheese products are all non-hormonal products, even if not nesc. organic. They don’t advertise it, but there was a big campaign to allow them to reject the hormone laden stuff — and they still do.
Comment by Roger, Gone Green — May 10, 2006 @ 7:54 pm
I met you first (but not in person) from LunchSpark. We’ve definitely got to do lunch because I can’t stand the sight of people drinking milk. I’m a soy guy too and that’s still pushing it. The thought of milk has always grossed me out. Where is the green drinks thing going to be held tomorrow? I’m going to try and attend.
Comment by ilan — May 11, 2006 @ 12:30 am
That whole documentary made me so angry. Everyone should watch it.
Comment by Jasmin — May 11, 2006 @ 8:26 am
ilan — The East Side Green Drinks will be on the 18th. It’s usually held at McMurphy’s Tavern at 72 North Fair Oaks Avenue, but you may wanna check the website a day before just to make sure they haven’t moved. Won’t be there cuz it’s too far away, but maybe we’ll see each other at a West Side green drinks :)
Jasmin — You’re so funny — It made me angry too, but the way you said it makes us seem sorta masochistic for recommending that everyone go see it ;)
Comment by Siel — May 13, 2006 @ 12:50 pm
Anger fuels change! :) :) :)
(I think all cat-owners are a bit masochistic…heh heh.)
Comment by Jasmin — May 15, 2006 @ 1:51 pm
I’m allergic to cats — sad, cuz I like their personalities –
Comment by Siel — May 15, 2006 @ 2:51 pm
I know your post was a while ago, but my chiropractor has been telling me for YEARS that milk (oh, you mean cow pus? he says) is bad. And, Starbucks IS a good milk target–they are in the business of selling milk (there is more milk in most of their offerings than coffee or espresso by far). The best recourse? Give up dairy. If you need something liquid and white, try rice milk or almond milk (forego the soy). BTW, I like your blog–good messages!
Comment by Gail — June 8, 2007 @ 5:49 pm