A Fake Group Fights for Monsanto's Right to Deceive You

From Mercola.com

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

Dr. Mercola's Comments:

Afact appears to be Monsanto’s last-ditch attempt to keep their rBGH profits growing, even as increasing 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.

Monsanto’s “cover” group is now fighting for the right to keep YOU in the dark about what’s 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 farms—those with less than 100 cows—use POSILAC, while some 42.7% of the large farms—those with more than 500 cows—use 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, it’s 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.

DQ's notes:  I was in Wallymart earlier this evening and noticed the epidemic of  obesity.  I also noticed some very young girls who could not have been older than 3rd or 4th graders who had prominent breasts and bras already. Neither of these are isolated incidents and I have to wonder if growth hormones in milk, beef and other meats are not largely responsible - especially when it comes to earlier puberty and sexual development in young girls.