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Re: rbst state labeling laws
It wasn't Monsanto that sued Vermont. It was 2 grocers
associations: Int'l Dairy Foods Assoc. and Grocery Manufacturers
of America
Monsanto did sue a small dairy in Waco TX called Pure Milk and
Ice Cream who was labeling their products rBST free, claiming
that it discriminated against their product. But in a
confidential out of court settlement, Pure Milk was allowed to
label voluntarily. For a reference, see The Austin
American-Stateman, June 17, 1995 ("Agreement clears Waco ads")
DC
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
David Conner
Center for Rural Studies
207 Morrill Hall, UVM
Burlington, VT 05405
(802) 656-3021
FAX: (802) 656-0776
dconner@zoo.uvm.edu
On Sat, 3 May 1997, Teige Davidson wrote:
>
>
>
> Current Bills introduced for 1997
>
> MA "This milk was produced by cows injected with synthetic BGH."
>
> VT Authorize Voluntary Labeling of rBGH products
> producer affidavit "every milk producer doing business in vermont who
> desires to sell milk
> to a handler doing business in vermont shall, by affidavit, notify such
> handler that such
> milk is
> 1) is from cows treated with rBST or
> 2) is from cows which are no, and have not been with 90 days prior
> to the
> notification, treated with rBST, and swears he or she will notify
> his or her
> handler at least 90 days befor using rBST in the production of
> milk by such
> cows.
>
> NJ require distributors to label and keep affidavit and requires labeling
> of consumer
> products if it contains rBST
> (from lexus/nexus)
>
> NY also has a bill pending (does anyone know for sure)
>
> In addition four states passed laws in 1994.
>
> ME (enacted april 12) directs farmer who ue rbst to register that
> information with the dairies they supply. The state also established a
> "maine quality seal" label from dairy products produced from cows not
> treated with rBST.
>
> MN (may 11, 1994) authorized a voluntary labeling that state, "milk in
> this product is from cows not treated with rBGH" and may include the
> statement "Farmer Certified rBGH-free"
>
> VT (april 13, 1994) requires that all dairy products derived from cows
> treated with rBST be labeled as such.
>
> (This one Monsanto knocked down, did they do the same to any other state
> bills?)
>
> WI(april 28, 1994) authorized voluntary labeling claims "Farmer Certified
> rBGH free"
>
> Has any other states tried to have mandatory rBGH labeling?
>
> How many states has Monsanto sued other than Veromnt? (would anyone care
> to elaborate on the Vermont happenings?)
>
> If a state doesn't have a voluntary labelling law, are companies free to
> label their products? Didn't monsanto sue 2 dairies on this in 1994?
>
> A question about the mastitis issue. According to an office of technology
> assessent biotech in 1992, it showed that dairy cow production has
> increased by 100% since 1950 (per cow from 8000 to 15000 lbs/yr). If that
> is so (a result of artificial insemination, better feeding and more
> precise milking times) how did this impact the incidence of mastitis since
> 1950?
>
> I have heard that the national organics standards that is pending is up in
> the air on whether gmo's can be organic . . . Since rBGH is cleary a
> hormone, I assume that it is not an issue or is it?
>
>
> Teige Davidson
> Graduate Student
> Tufts University
> School of Nutrition Science & Policy
> Agriculture, Food & Environment Program
> Medford, Massachusetts
>
>
References: