WHAT IS THE DEBATE ABOUT GENETICALLY ENGINEERED MILK?
Monsanto Corporation has developed a recombinant form of bovine growth hormone, rBGH, which can be injected into cows to increase milk production by 10 to 24 percent. In the US, this hormone is legal and used by some sectors of the dairy industry. Estimated profits to Monsanto from rBGH sales is US $300 to $500 million in the US alone. In Canada, the hormone has not been approved by Health Canada and the evaluation has been ongoing. Health Canada has requested additional information from Monsanto. On January 14, 1999 Canada announced that we will not allow the sale of Bovine Growth Hormone in this country. The hormone was refused for reasons of animal safety and welfare. Bovine growth hormone became legal in the US in February, 1994. The U.S. does not require labelling because it considers milk from cows treated with rBGH to be as safe as milk from untreated cows. Dairy products originating in the US for sale in Canada may come from cows treated with the drug, however there is no way t
