Got Greed? Drink up.

Corporate greed is at it again, right here in Kansas. The Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA) is proposing to ban dairies from labeling their milk as "rBGH-free," "rBST-free" or "no artificial hormones."

Consumers are beginning to educate themselves about the dangers of synthetic hormones used to increase milk production, and dairies that choose not to inject their cattle with such hormones are producing milk products that are becoming increasing popular. This emerging market is threatening the profits of big time dairies who are using the Monsanto developed (though recently sold to a division of Eli Lilly) synthetic growth hormones (rBGH, rBST). And they want the money -- so now there is an attempt to limit labeling and in effect hide from the consumer whether milk is produced using "bovine growth hormones" or not.

Free market economics works by giving people the choice to purchase what they want. This requires freedom to produce competing goods and truth in labeling. Doesn't it seem that if milk producers are using a recently developed synthetic hormone to increase milk production, they should be required to put it on the label. And if those who don't use these hormones are selling more of their milk, maybe the market is speaking. Large powerful corporations should not be able to manipulate the laws and in effect hide from consumers information used to make choices between competing products.

These hormones have been banned in many countries ( including Canada, the European Union, Australia, New Zealand and Japan) due to fear of increased risks of disease, including hormone related cancers. Check out my previous post about the possible dangers of these hormone produced dairy products --here is the link.

Get involved. Please tell the governor of Kansas and the Kansas Department of Agriculture that we need truth in labeling and continued freedom of choice in the marketplace. Businesses should not be able to hide their inferior products through manipulation of labeling laws. The proposed rule would ban a true statement, and interfere with our rights as consumers to know what's in our food. Here is a link to the Kansas chapter of the Sierra Club to send a letter to the appropriate decision makers.