Reader comments
Proposed dairy-label change criticized at hearing

This law seems pushed by the drug-maker Monsanto as an attempt to deceive consumers that their product is fine. The truth is I want to support companies like Winder Farms that do not use growth hormones, and I want to know how my milk is produced.

Give me a break!

Why is the Department of Agriculture wasting it's resources on this issue? This would make Utah's dairy industry uncompetitive with dairies in other states by requiring some of the most restrictive labeling requirements in the nation. I thought we had a Republican administration that wanted to help business in the state succeed, not handcuf business with unecessary regulation.

I would love to know who the drug company is making political contributions to. It sounds like we have a big drug company here that is trying to use legistation as a way to force it's product into our milk.

As a parent, I simply want to give my kids good, healthy products. I have followed the rBST issue for a few years, and I believe the verdict is still out on if it is safe or not. Many countries have banned rBST, and some studies have found real health risks. Also, the use of the drug causes nasty reactions in cows.

While our FDA may have approved the use of the drug, this is the same FDA that has approved MANY drugs recently that have shown serious negative side effects. So, as a parent, I want the choice to use products that have not been treated with this drug.

I hope the State of Utah does not make labeling so restrictive the companies simply don't want to fight "city hall" and therefore don't advertise that their products are all natural.

Here we go again. A Utah legislator and a multinational biotech giant team up to force ridiculous rules on companies who just want the right to state that their milk is from cows not shot up with growth hormones. Who is the Ag Department really trying to protect, anyway?

This issue is so overblown. rBST has no effects on cows, people or anything. BST is a naturally occurring hormone, that has now been synthesized to help keep milk costs affordable and produce more milk. Some companies that claim to be rBST free have no way to prove or know that. Because 1, their milk is mixed with everyone else's, and 2) there is no test to be able to detect rBST from BST...BECAUSE IT'S THE SAME!

These companies are fighting the rule because it will limit their ability to leverage fear and emotion to get more money for their milk. It's not because it is any more nutritious. Just follow the money. It's not the money from the drug company you should worry about, it's the money from the "organics" or "naturals" that's concerning. They scare you into paying more money for milk that "makes you feel better." How ridiculous.

Should you be able to buy that more expensive milk? Yes, but don't play on my emotions and charge me more for the same product, insinuating that the other product is unsafe. Why is technology embraced in every industry, but shunned in agriculture?

The comments made by "correct labeling" are simply wrong. rBST does cause harm to cows -- the material from Monsanto even documents this. Cows live shorter lives, have increased instances of mastitis, and run a temperature when on the drug. These cows have higher rates of infection, and therefore take more antibiotics. While they are pulled out of the milking herd when on antiboitics, they are put back in when the infection is curred. Still, the drug resistant bacteria resistant to these antibiotics end up in the milk, air, soil and water, resulting in increased antibiotic resistance in humans, a major health problem.

Also, many goverments have BANNED the use of rBST, including all 25 countries in the European Union, Canada, Japan, etc. They found the risks to be too great.

But, I respect your decision to buy milk with rBST. I simply ask that you respect my decision to purchase all natural products, and not prohibit companies from marketing their milk as such. This is simply a free speech issue.

A tough call. rbST free is a distinction without a difference. Economic rather than safety concerns are the reason other countries do not permit use of rbST. You can't repeal the law of supply and demand so the added milk production from rbST reduces milk prices. Yet, it will be hard to deny consumers the right to behave irrationally. It is probably just as irrational to pay a premium price for Meadow Gold brand milk or Kraft brand cheese vs. store brands as it is to pay a premium price for rbST free milk. However, in the case of milk it will no longer be a choice as the retailers believe their customers do not want milk from cows treated with rbST. The dairy farmers using rbST will have no way to market such milk. The end result will be a milk supply that is all rbST free, and in the long run that milk will be a little more costly for the consumer. Prediction-the health nuts are going to win this battle! Sell your Monsanto stock.

...if the hormone is safe. The FDA says it is, but they have been wrong before and the are lobbied constantly by special interests like Monsanto. I think the fact that other goverments have banned the product demonstrates that there is not consensus on the issue.

So, why not let companies put the label on the product? Actually, it would make more sense for companies that use rbst treated milk to disclose that they use the product, not the other way around.

The bottom line is the government should stay out of this debate. Let the consumer decide. Consumers are brighter than the government gives them credit for.

read the book "In Defense of food: An Eater's manifesto" by Michael Pollan and then you will pay any price for milk. The FDA listens to the food industry and the ideology of nutritionalism. They manipulate the facts and in the end Americans don't know what to believe and don't know how to eat a healthy diet.

If every politician was required to read "In Defense of Food" I would hope that if they had any conscience whatsoever the changes would begin with them. I realize that that is a leap of faith, but it is incomprehensible that with the facts laid out as they are they would continue to accept the bribes from big business as they do. But then again, I think in writing a book like this Pollan has the right idea --- the real sweeping changes will come from the People of this country, once they know the truth of why we have these circular arguments between the consumer, big business, the government and the TRUTH!