Consumer Victory: Monsanto Drops Milk Hormone

Monsanto announced on Aug. 6 plans to sell off its controversial genetically engineered animal drug, recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH). Monsanto's divestment of rBGH results from 14 years of determined opposition by organic consumers, public interest, and family farmer groups. Recently, the American Nurses Association called for a resolution for the health care industry to stop purchasing milk produced using rBGH.

"What's happened today could be a great victory for the American consumer," says Andrew Kimbrell, executive director of the Center for Food Safety. "Monsanto has recognized that consumers have made a choice to avoid milk made with genetically engineered growth hormones, and that the dairies and markets that serve their needs are not buying milk made with their product."

On August 20, Elanco, a division of Eli Lilly and Company, announced that Lilly has signed an agreement to acquire the worldwide rights to the dairy cow supplement Posilac®, as well as the product's supporting operations, from Monsanto Company.

What is rBGH?

Bovine somatotropin is a protein hormone produced in the pituitary glands of cattle. It is also called bovine growth hormone. The hormone can be genetically engineered, using recombinant DNA technology. The resulting product is called recombinant bovine somatotropin (rBST), recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH), or artificial growth hormone. It is administered to the cow by injection and used to increase milk production.

Sources: Organic Consumers Association, Center for Food Safety, The Organic and Non-GMO-Report, Wikipedia. For more information, please read this article at the Center for Food Safety.