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Several large dairy producers and food companies have made news recently by getting rid of recombinant bovine growth hormone, also known as rBGH or rBST, from their milk supply. This is great news for consumers, since this genetically engineered growth hormone is known to cause harm to cows and may pose health risks to humans. But in Ohio, things appear to be going backwards.

A recent article in the Columbus Dispatch (Advocate linked to hormone industry, woman appointed to speak for consumers on dairy labels, by Monique Curet, Saturday December 15, 2007) pointed out that the "consumer representative" the Ohio Department of Agriculture chose to join the advisory panel was a former employee of Monsanto, stating: "Robin Steiner formerly worked for Monsanto Co., which markets the synthetic growth hormones at the center of the labeling debate. Steiner's husband also is a dairy farmer, and he uses the synthetic hormones in his herd". Tell the Ohio Department of Agriculture and Governor Strickland that REAL consumers want to know that their milk comes from cows not treated with rBGH!

Consumers want more information about the foods they buy and feed to their families – not less. These labels are not “misleading,” they fill an important gap in knowledge about how our dairy products are produced.