Consumer Victory: Monsanto Drops Milk Hormone

Monsanto announced on Aug.6 plans to sell off its controversialgenetically engineered animal drug,recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone(rBGH). Monsanto's divestmentof rBGH results from 14 yearsof determined opposition by organicconsumers, public interest, and familyfarmer groups. Recently, the AmericanNurses Association called for aresolution for the health care industryto stop purchasing milk produced usingrBGH.

"What's happened today couldbe a great victory for the Americanconsumer," says Andrew Kimbrell, executivedirector of the Center for FoodSafety. "Monsanto has recognizedthat consumers have made a choiceto avoid milk made with geneticallyengineered growth hormones, andthat the dairies and markets thatserve their needs are not buying milkmade with their product."

On August 20, Elanco, a divisionof Eli Lilly and Company, announcedthat Lilly has signed an agreementto acquire the worldwide rights tothe dairy cow supplement Posilac®,as well as the product's supportingoperations, from Monsanto Company.

What is rBGH?

Bovine somatotropin is a proteinhormone produced in the pituitaryglands of cattle. It is also called bovinegrowth hormone. The hormonecan be genetically engineered, usingrecombinant DNA technology. The resultingproduct is called recombinantbovine somatotropin (rBST), recombinantbovine growth hormone (rBGH),or artificial growth hormone. It isadministered to the cow by injectionand used to increase milk production.

Sources: Organic Consumers Association, Centerfor Food Safety, The Organic and Non-GMO-Report,Wikipedia. For more information, please read this article at the Center for Food Safety.