Here we go Mike !!!!
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Received 3 April - from Sustainability
A Fake Group Fights for Monsanto's Right to Deceive You
The American Farmers for the Advancement and Conservation of Technology, or
Afact, calls itself a grass-roots organization that came together to defend
their right to use the artificial growth hormone recombinant bovine
somatotropin, also known as rBST or rBGH, in their milk production.
What they do not tell you is that Afact is not only an organization of dairy
farmers. The group actually has close ties to Monsanto, the makers of rBGH,
which is marketed under the brand name Posilac.
Monsanto and a Colorado consultant that lists Monsanto as a client helped to
organize Afact. The group has also worked with marketing firm Osborn & Barr,
whose founders include a former Monsanto executive.
As a growing number of consumers are choosing to buy milk that does not contain
artificial growth hormones, Afact has started a counteroffensive to stop milk
labels from being allowed to say they contain no artificial growth hormone.
Cows treated with Posilac produce about one gallon more per day than untreated
cows. Certain farmers want to keep using the hormone to boost their
profits, while many consumers wonder about the potential health risks to
humans and cows.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has declared that Posilac is safe, but
many other countries have refused to approve it.
Sources:
New York Times March 9, 2008
What you dont know about weight loss can hurt you
Low-calorie or low-fat foods may not address your personal issues with weight
management at all. In addition to being highly processed and nearly free of
any vital nutrients, these types of foods often contain ingredients that may
compromise your health when consumed.
Find Out More
Dr. Mercola's Comments:
Afact appears to be Monsantos last-ditch attempt to keep their rBGH profits
growing, even as in-creasing numbers of U.S. dairies, and consumers, choose to
avoid milk treated with hormones like the plague. Their way of going about
this is being done in typical Monsanto style: deceitfully.
Monsantos cover group is now fighting for the right to keep YOU in the dark
about whats in the food you eat. They want labels that say milk is
rBGh-free or rBST-free to be banned, so that you cannot choose to boycott
their artificial hormones.
The FDA, of course, is known to be in bed with major corporations like
Monsanto, which may be why the United States has allowed the use of rBGH
since 1993, while other countries, including Canada and the European
Union, turned it down.
Why Might You be Concerned About rBGH in Your Milk?
Now, I am not a fan of pasteurized milk of any kind, whether or not it contains
rBGH, but that does not preclude the fact that this hormone may very well
be dangerous. Consider this statement by Michael Hansen, Ph.D., a senior
scientist with Consumers Union:
Consumers may have a number of reasons why they want to know whether milk
comes from cows that were treated with rbGH. Some consumers may be
concerned with the various animal health problems (increases in mastitis
[visibly abnormal milk], various reproductive problems, laminitis,
injection site reaction, etc.) caused by the drug and may not want the cow to
suffer needlessly. Indeed, Canada and the European Union turned down rbGH
for approval on the grounds that it was not safe for animals.
Others may be concerned about the unanswered human health questions, which
primarily revolve around potential for increased milk levels of antibiotic
residues and of insulin like growth factor 1, which has been linked to
numerous cancers.
Yet others may want to support small, family farm operations. According to 2007
US Department of Agriculture figures, some 9.1% of small farmsthose
with less than 100 cowsuse POSILAC, while some 42.7% of the large
farmsthose with more than 500 cowsuse it. Thus, rbGH is used more than 4.5
times more frequently by large farmers than small farmers.
rBGH Milk is Genetically Modified
Not surprisingly, considering that Monsanto is at the forefront of the
genetically modified food industry, rBGH milk is actually genetically modified
milk. It is not always perceived as such, yet, the reality remains.
Increased IGF-1 levels are not the only concern when it comes to "genetically
modified" milk, says Samuel Epstein, MD, a scientist at the University of
Illinois School of Public Health who is one of the top expert's on cancer
prevention. He is also the author of one of the best books on the topic, Got
(Genetically Engineered) Milk?
"This milk is qualitatively and quantitatively different from natural milk,"
states Dr. Epstein. "In addition to the issue of increased IGF-1 levels,
these differences include:
Contamination of milk by the GM hormone rBGH
Contamination by pus and antibiotics resulting from the high incidence of
mastitis in rBGH injected cows
Contamination with illegal antibiotics and drugs used to treat mastitis and
other rBGH-induced disease Increased concentration of the thyroid hormone
enzyme thyroxin-5'-monodeiodinase
Increased concentration of long chain and decreased concentration of short
chain fatty acids
A reduction in levels of the milk protein casein"
Well, the numerous concerns surrounding rBGH have not been kept a secret. I
posted an article back in 2002 that found the major reason that rBGH was
still on the market was that it was not labeled.
So food manufacturers took matters into their own hands, and, since milk was
not labeled as being with rBGH, began to advertise if their milk did NOT
contain it. Some dairy analysts, according to the New York Times article
above, now believe that soon nearly all of the milk supply will come from
untreated cows.
And do you think that this makes Monsanto a little hot under the collar? Of
course, and their answer is Afact.
This is a Bigger Issue Than Just rBGH
The moral of this story is not only about the risks of rBGH, its about the
risks of a society that allows a corrupt company like Monsanto to exist.
I came across this quote from Dr. Robert Hare from the film The Corporation,
and it really sums up the issue quite nicely: "There are some corporations
that clearly are operating at a level that are disastrous for the general
public
And in fact I suppose one could argue that in many respects a
corporation of that sort is the prototypical psychopath, at the corporate level
instead of the individual level."
Monsanto is one such company, and if you have any doubt about their intention
to put profits ahead of human existence, consider that this is the same
corporation that produced Agent Orange, PCBs, and genetically modified
terminator seeds that are threatening the future of your food supply.
Monsanto is the poster child for manipulation and corporate greed, so please,
forward this article on to your circle of influence, and make the choice to
boycott any product that this unethical company is associated with.
Related Articles:
The Sordid History of Monsanto Poisoning Your Milk
Monsanto Attacks "Hormone-Free" Milk Labels
Monsanto Pushes Hormones on School Kids in Their Milk
