So now even big grocery chains’re saying no to pus-tainted milk! Kroger’s announced it’s gonna steer clear of hormone-infused milk — and that “consumer preference, not safety concerns, prompted its decision.”
The hormone’s rBGH (recombinant bovine growth hormone, aka rBST for recombinant bovine somatotropin) — created by Monsanto and injected into cows to produce more milk faster — even if that means the cow udders get infected and the resulting pus and blood get swirled into the milk.
Odd how it takes so long for people to start saying no to cow pus and blood –
IMHO, part of the reason the anti-rBGH fight’s taking so long is cuz — it’s called rBGH. “No rBGH!” you could scream at street corners, but a lot of people have no fucking clue what that means. Make the slogan “No pus in my milk!” and you get a lot more ready and willing supporters –
But rBGH it’s been called, which perhaps explains why the Food and Water Watch has had to work so damn hard the last few years to just get Starbucks — which sez it hearts all things green — to switch to rBGH-free milk…. [image by Food & Water Watch]
First Starbucks conceded it’ll phase out pus in stores in more eco-regions: Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Alaska, Montana and New Mexico, Northern California and New England. After more “Stop Frankenbucks!” type pressure from activists, the chain’s managed to improve its percentages to 51% rBGH-free milk. One customer service gal told me that Starbucks’ll go all rBGH-free by the end of this year, but apparently the corp hasn’t made a public promise to that effect — although it’s come down hard against full-fat milk, vowing to cut that fat by the end of this year.
Cloned milk’s getting no love either, as evidenced by this ad by The Center for Food Safety. Dean Foods, the nation’s largest dairy company, has already declined milk from cloned animals. Due to the sheer size of Dean Foods, the milk ban could prevent the adoption of cloning in the dairy industry altogether.
Other fun milk facts:
Milk’s hoofprint is roughly 3.5 lbs of CO2 equivalent per gallon of milk.
Welsh farmers want dates — and so Welsh milk cartons sport singles ads — of organic farmers!
For more info ’bout rBGH — and to see first hand the disgusting pus and blood that goes into “regular” mil, check out The Corporation in book or film form (reviewed by me here) or watch The Meatrix online, free.
Update, 8/27/07: Starbucks commits to going rBGH-free by December 31, 2007.
Holy, you just made me so glad I don’t drink milk. Man. A little much for leisurely Sunday reading; but a good post. Thanks.
Comment by Jennifer — August 5, 2007 @ 8:08 pm
The next step is to get the dairy farmers to stop feeding their cows gmo-based feed.
Our local dairy feeds their cows only non-gmo grains, so we feel really good about drinking the milk. Maybe some day, all dairies will be gmo free.
The science of transgenic engineering is in its infancy, and a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, especially when it affects the world food supply.
Few Americans know that 70% of processed foods in this country contain gmo’s, and these foods are not labeled – they should at least be labeled, like they are in the EU.
We all have a right to know what we are eating.
Comment by william — August 5, 2007 @ 8:20 pm
Glad I don’t drink milk:)
Comment by Zach Behrens — August 6, 2007 @ 12:41 am
This is why I ONLY feed my daughter organic dairy products!
Comment by Cindy — August 6, 2007 @ 10:44 am
This line says a lot: “consumer preference, not safety concerns, prompted its decision.”
We live in a world wherein corporate profits come first and safety doesn’t enter into the picture. How many women wind up with breast, uterine, cervical or ovarian cancer from hormones in milk and other foods? It doesn’t matter to corporations. For this reason I wrote my book Evil Genius in the Garden of Eden (amazon.com).
We have to keep an eye on Horizon Dairy and Whole Foods regarding this milk issue. Thanks to pressure by consumers who care, maybe these corporations will get the message. The only kind of suffering they understand is their own.
Comment by vic — August 6, 2007 @ 12:20 pm
And here I was already convinced by the “No rBGH” slogan!
Comment by Kate — August 6, 2007 @ 9:25 pm
Here is one of many articles on Horizon Dairy:
http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_400.cfm
Go to this website and search for Horizon Dairy and see all the dope on this company. They are now owned by the mega corporation Dean Foods, so basically anything goes, especially greenwashing.
Comment by vic — August 6, 2007 @ 9:28 pm