HEALTH FLASH: Spilled Milk
Hope in the kitchen. Her name is more than a name; it is who she is, hopeful that people will wake up to the importance of unadulterated food and truth in labeling. (See her letter below.)
While the issue of growth hormones in milk not being shown on the label is currently affecting only Pennsylvania, the concept of withholding product information can easily spread to other states, and you can write your own governor of your state with a similar letter. This is an excerpt from a letter written by my friend/colleague Hope Woodring, who appeared in the December posting under Profiles. She sees this as a critically important issue for everyone, as do I. The idea of withholding labeling information on whatever I eat is very disturbing!
Hope also notes that the next thing we need to hit is across-the-board truth in labeling. All GMO (genetically modified organisms in food) and THE irradiation of foods, as well as growing techniques, need to be labeled on all foods, including restaurant fare. The fight for truth in labeling is on!
Governor Rendell (or the governor of your state)
225 Main Capitol Building.
Harrisburg, PA 17120
717-787-2500
RE: DAIRY PRODUCTS and TRUTH in LABELING
Dear Governor Rendell:
I want to know the truth! If Monsanto (the multinational agricultural biotechnology corporation that manufactures, along with genetically engineered seeds and rBST (recombinant bovine somatotropin) is so proud of its technological achievements and use of rBST hormones to produce more milk, let the farmers who use rBST label their products thusly.
Let�s get the truth out for everyone to be able to choose dairy products which reveal what�s inside and not continue to cover up the truth. Every milk and food producer should be free to label its products explaining its own growing techniques and philosophy. Also, those who do not use growth hormones should be allowed to put that informationon on their containers.*
We already know that milk products from cows treated with synthetic hormones have higher levels of Insulin-like growth factor 1, which is linked to cancer, and that humans who regularly drink milk have a somewhat higher IGF-1 in their blood. Even though the experts would like us to believe that the cancer risk is insignificant, for someone who is at risk for cancer, the rBST hormone information should be available.
rBST is banned in Canada and Europe because of the increased health risk to the cows. Why is it even allowed in this country?
Sincerely,
Hope Woodring (Your name if you send a letter)
*FYI: An editorial from State College’s Centre Daily Times (January 3rd Opinion Page) aptly summarizes the labeling conflict created by the users of Monsanto’s hormone shots of rBST to increase milk production. It is this group who would use a legislative bill to make it unlawful for organic farmers in Pennsylvania to label their milk as hormone and antibiotic free as of February 1. The issue is actually about truth in labeling. To read the entire summary, go to www.centredaily.org and in the search space type: Truth is spilled over milk. It is an excellent opinion piece. Here are some quoted excerpts from the article:
“As of Feb. 1, Pennsylvania will become the first state in the country to ban labels on milk bottles and cartons that proclaim the product therein to have been produced without using the controversial � in some circles � synthetic hormone. Labels of this type simply confuse people, the reasoning goes, implying that milk produced by using rBST is unsafe. Bull.”
The article goes on to explain that the real issue is truth in labeling. Again, I quote: “But that brings us to�.. what should be the critical question: Do people have the right to know what is in the products they buy and the food they eat? Absolutely and fundamentally, and Wolff�s ruling, which will take effect in less than a month, is a clear violation of that right.”
So start writing, please! If you Google Governor Rendell, there is a link to email him in case you prefer that to snail mail. Every governor has a website, so you can email your own state’s governor with this important issue of truth in labeling for all the foods we buy and eat.