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Indiana to Vote on rBGH Labeling Law!
 As you know, we had a major victory on milk labeling in Pennsylvania last week, and are still working to stop a similar ban on labeling in Ohio.
We learned yesterday that the State of Indiana is considering a similar move, House Bill 1300, which would make it illegal for dairies to label their milk as coming from cows not treated with the genetically engineered growth hormone rBGH (also known as rBST).
House Bill 1300 is working it's way through the legislature as you read this! The bill passed through the Indiana House Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development, and we believe it will go for a full House vote between now and Wednesday January 30th! If the bill passes through the House, it will then go on to the Senate side.
Contact your State House and Senate representatives today and tell them to oppose this bill! Indiana citizens have a right to know how their food is produced, and dairies have a right to tell them!
Click on the "tell me more" link to view the sponsors of the bill, and see who voted for it in committee!
| Sample Letter for Campaign |
Subject: Oppose HB1300 and Protect My Right to Know
Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,
I am writing to urge you to oppose House bill 1300, which would restrict dairy producers from labeling milk as produced without recombinant bovine growth hormone. Many consumers object to this hormone, known as rBGH or rBST. I have a right to know if this artificial hormone was used in the production of the dairy products I buy, and I believe dairy companies should be able to inform customers of this fact.
The use of rBGH is concerning because it causes infections and other problems in cows. These infections lead to the use of more antibiotics, which could contribute to the major problem of antibiotic resistant bacteria. There are also many unresolved questions concerning the use of this artificial hormone and links to some types of cancers, particularly breast, prostate, and lung.
FDA approved the use of voluntary labels more than 12 years ago at the request of dairy companies seeking to respond to customer concerns over the use of the genetically engineered hormone. Earlier this year Monsanto, the company that makes rBGH under the trade name Posilac, pressured the FDA to restrict the use of labels identifying "rBGH-free" or "rBST-free" dairy products, but FDA rightly refused to do so. Indiana should be no different. Citizens want more information about the foods we buy and feed to our families - not less. rBGH-free labels are not "misleading," they fill an important gap in knowledge about how our dairy products are produced. In fact, an April 2007 Lake Research Partners' national survey shows that eight in ten adults (80%) feel dairy products originating from cows that have not been treated with rBGH should be allowed to be labeled as such.
I urge you to recognize the importance of food labels to consumers and producers, and not to restrict the use of rBGH-free labeling. Denying people information about how milk was produced leaves consumers without the information they need to make informed choices.
Vote no on House bill 1300, or any such companion bill in the Senate.
Sincerely,
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