The Wednesday edition of The Marion Star had an editorial by Senator Larry Mumper (R) entitled Milk labeling has stirred debate. This was basically a pitch to convince the people of Ohio that we should support the attempts of the Ohio Department of Agriculture to ban dairy companies from labeling milk as “rBST free” or “hormone free”.

I think some background is needed. rBST or rBGH is a synthetic growth hormone developed by the chemical company giant Monsanto. This is the same company that makes RoundUp, the weed killer. Conventional dairy farmers inject it in their cows to increase and prolong milk production. This greatly increases the amount of milk they can turn out and thus their profits.

You may be asking what the problem is. Well, the hormone being injected into the cows ends up being a part of their milk as well and some people just plain object to having chemicals in their food and drink. Add to that the fact that dozens of other developed countries have banned this very same chemical because their independent studies have linked it to cancer….and you begin to see why more and more milk consumers are demanding rBST free milk. They are speaking out against rBST quite loudly in fact:

* California banned the use of rBGH and accounts for 8% of the US milk supply.* All milk produced in Oregon is now produced without rBGH.* The national Kroger grocery store chain (westerners might know them as Frys) has declared that rBGH products will be banned as of February 2008. * In May, Publix Super Markets with 900 stores went rBST free in its branded milk products.

The above quote is from The Natural Family Living Guide.

Monsanto has seen a dramatic decrease in profits as dairy farmers just say no to rBST as their consumers demand it. Monsanto however does not intend to take this lying down. They have decided that in order to squash this rebellion they need to make sure that diary farmers NOT using rBST are unable to market their milk as such. If consumers do not have a choice and do not know what is in their milk then dairy farmers will go back to using rBST and Monsanto’s business will go back up. Pennsylvania was their first target and the Department of Agriculture there attempted to ban “rBST free” and “hormone free” labeling so that consumers would know longer know what they are drinking or be able to distinguish between rBST free milk and milk that does have this hormone. The ban was passed but later stalled after public outcry. The position of Monsanto and the Department of Agriculture here in Ohio and in PA is that there is no real difference between milk with rBST and milk without it and to allow companies to label their milk as “rBST free” suggests that there is. They say that consumers might falsely think that rBST milk is better for them and buy it before other milks thus decreasing the profits of dairy companies using rBST….forcing them to raise prices…making milk less attainable to low income families.

This is basically what Senator Larry Mumper had to say in his article. He kept implying that allowing profits for companies using or selling rBST to decline was not in the best interests of low income families. These companies will not take a “hit” they will pass costs on to the consumer.

In other words…we need to kiss their butts so they don’t jack up the price of milk. And the butt kissing they want is for us to make business harder for their competition. The fact that consumers would no longer know what they are drinking and be able to make educated choices FOR THEMSELVES is pointless really. I found Mumper’s article insulting. He kept saying he supports the rights of people to know what they are drinking BUT…… Mumper I am sorry, there are no BUTs. You either support our right to know or you don’t. Giving in to greed or playing the low income pity card is not acceptable.

Folks it is scary that this man is speaking for us on committees dealing with Agriculture (Chair); Education; Environment and Natural Resources; Health, Human Services and Aging. The use of rBST in our milk is the height of stupidity and I would hope someone in these positions would be able to see that.

We cannot allow companies like Monsanto to direct policy. I have a right to know what is in my milk and for anyone to interfere with that basic right in order to appease special interests or greedy corporations is beyond disgusting. As Ohioans we cannot allow this. Tell our government that we will NOT tolerate them disguising our milk by banning appropriate labeling!

Contact Mr. Mumper and just say NO!

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