Hormone and rBGH Free... Really?
Label on Milk Container What is rBGH? A growth hormone, a recombinant bovine growth hormone. Do you want this in your dairy products? Do you want hormones in your meat?
Zilmax is a hormone that will help a cow gain weight in a short period of time so when the cow's life is ended to produce meat there would be extra meat to sell. AKA: More Profits
There are labels on food products that state Hormone-Free Meat and rBGH-Free Dairy, but here comes the BIG BUT...the labels are just an implication that no hormones were used at anytime during the life of the animal, HOWEVER, the USDA has ALSO stated that there is no way the statement can be VERIFIED by anyone! THEREFORE, the USDA allows for the following statement to be used: No Hormones Administered.
Now the USDA will hold manufacturers accountable. How can they do this when the USDA states that claims can't be verified? Nevertheless, foods that have USDA Certified Organic labels actually means "no artificial hormones are capable of being inspected or approved". AND things get worse... FDA has declared that the hormone Zilmax is safe. So why did a company (Tyson Foods) voluntarily stop using Zilmax in their cattle feed? What was the reason? Concerns of future legal action dealing with health issues or to cut cost and increase profits? Additionally, our government states that there is no difference between products having rBGH and not having rBGH. Then why use this artificial hormone?
Zilmax is a hormone that will help a cow gain weight in a short period of time so when the cow's life is ended to produce meat there would be extra meat to sell. AKA: More Profits
There are labels on food products that state Hormone-Free Meat and rBGH-Free Dairy, but here comes the BIG BUT...the labels are just an implication that no hormones were used at anytime during the life of the animal, HOWEVER, the USDA has ALSO stated that there is no way the statement can be VERIFIED by anyone! THEREFORE, the USDA allows for the following statement to be used: No Hormones Administered.
Now the USDA will hold manufacturers accountable. How can they do this when the USDA states that claims can't be verified? Nevertheless, foods that have USDA Certified Organic labels actually means "no artificial hormones are capable of being inspected or approved". AND things get worse... FDA has declared that the hormone Zilmax is safe. So why did a company (Tyson Foods) voluntarily stop using Zilmax in their cattle feed? What was the reason? Concerns of future legal action dealing with health issues or to cut cost and increase profits? Additionally, our government states that there is no difference between products having rBGH and not having rBGH. Then why use this artificial hormone?
Label on Ground Beef
One more very interesting thing is that the FDA states any milk claiming "No Hormones" or "Hormone-Free" is incapable of being true because naturally occurring hormones are always found in milk. So adding all of the above into the equation, along with these labels, we have no clear understanding of what may be considered natural or what may have added unnatural hormones. In the end, all this for these labels is a waste of tax payers money and a lie through the process of omission.
Bill Lauto, at GoingTrueGreen.com
Environmental Scientist
International Sustainability and Energy Consultant
Contribute your comments!
Bill Lauto, at GoingTrueGreen.com
Environmental Scientist
International Sustainability and Energy Consultant
Contribute your comments!
