Why Is Cheaper Milk Bad for Artificial Growth Hormones?
If your milk has tasted, well, a little less fraught with controversy lately, you can probably attribute it to the decline of recombinant bovine growth hormone. Better known as rBST or rBGH, the synthetic hormone appears to have largely worn out its welcome and dairy farmers are dropping its use around the country. A study just released at University of California Davis concludes many producers believe the future of dairy production in California will not include rBST . California is the nation s largest dairy state, producing more than 41 billion pounds of milk in 2007. RBST has been at the center of controversy since the Food and Drug Administration approved the artificial growth hormone for commercial use in 1993, but even before it was approved, many were suspicious of the product. Once it hit the shelves in milk and other dairy products, Monsanto the drug s producer began working furiously to combat any opposition to its widespread use. Through its influence in the FDA, Monsanto w
