Monsanto Tries to Ban rBGH Labeling in Kansas

A new bill, SB 595, has been introduced in the Kansas Senate. While it's primary purpose is to prevent the labeling of dairy products as being "rBGH free" (Monsanto's genetically engineered hormone injected into dairy cows) it actually covers any food. The following analysis of the issue is provided by Rick North of the Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility and Craig Volland of the KC Food Circle & Kansas Sierra Club CAFO Committee.

Rick North of the Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility:
SB 595 bans two types of labels. The first is a label based on composition of the food product that can't be confirmed through lab analysis. There is no current commercial lab test that can detect rBGH. Therefore, this would knock out labels such as rBGH-free, rBST-free, or Does not contain artificial hormones.

The current industry standard requires that farmers sign an affidavit swearing that they don't use rBGH. The second provision in the bill knocks that out. In both instances, the bill makes an illogical leap that just because something isn't demonstrated by a lab test or is sworn to by affidavit or other sworn statement, then its misleading. This would knock out any production-related labels, such as "Our farmers pledge not to use rBGH (rBST, artificial hormones)."

Monsanto is getting clobbered in the marketplace. Dairy after dairy is going rBGH-free, all over the country. We estimate that at least one third, and probably 40-50% of all fluid milk sold in the U.S. is rBGH-free, and its going higher all the time. This is costing Monsanto millions of dollars and they are pulling out all the stops to reverse the trend. Their strategy is simple prevent consumers from knowing whether dairy products are rBGH-free or not by censoring label information.

Whats even more incredible about this bill is that it would appear to cover ANY food, not just dairy products. This is beyond what weve seen in bills/rules weve been fighting in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana. I'm not even sure it's intended to go that far. There are all kinds of food labels that can't be verified by lab tests state of origin, country of origin, bottled water claims (such as spring-fed or from a particular location) and (possibly) organic, to name a few.

Craig Volland:
I believe this bill would also ban the label "free range" for meats which is critically important to small farmers in Kansas who sell direct to eaters or to restaurants. That's because it is verified to our customers by testimonial or affidavit, not certification. Also, depending on how they define "agricultural product" ti could snag baked goods and jams and jellies, for example, that use some or all organically grown inputs but the processer may not, her- or himself, be certified organic.

Regardless of the science, this is, fundamentally, a consumer right- to- know issue. Also Monsanto has a long history of intimidating farmers with lawsuits (ie. Percy Schmeiser case) and otherwise attempting to get their way through undue governmental influence.  Because of their power and influence, product labeling is one of the few ways a consumer can exercise freedom of choice in this matter. Missouri growers may be seeing this shortly in the Mo. legislature.

Action against the Kansas bill must be swift because the Senate must act on it in the next week or so to abide by certain rules to get it through the Kansas House before the session ends.

Please call you state reps immediately and object to this bill. It's your right to know what is in (or not) your food. Monsanto has already failed to get this objective past the FDA at the national level, this new effort is a state-by-state attempt to circumvent that ruling and prevent consumers from being able to know if their dairy products contain growth hormones.

The Center for Food Safety has an automated letter set up to make voicing your opinion easy. Or, please feel free to use this text for your email:

Dear Senator John Vratil and Representative Tim Owens,

I vehemently oppose the passage of SB 595, which has been introduced in the Kansas Senate. It's primary purpose is to prevent the labeling of dairy products as being "rBGH free" and to keep consumers from being able to make choices regarding the food we consume. The FDA denied this effort by Monsanto to ban rBGH-free labeling at the national level, and I oppose Monsanto's attempt to get around the ruling by going state-by-state.

Consumers have a right to know what is in their food, how it has been produced and where it has been produced. Yet through efforts like this, Monsanto and others deny consumers a fundamental right to choose and to understand what is in the food we eat.

Please stop this bill and the abuse of consumer rights that it represents.

Thank you,

Kansas Resident

Kansas Legislature Members you need to write are:

Senator John Vratil  jvratil@lathropegage.com
Representative  Tim Owens  towens10@kc.rr.com

Comments

[expatchef]

This is the letter that Center for Food Safety prepared when this issue came up in Ohio:

"I am writing to voice my opposition to apparent recent moves by the Ohio Department of Agriculture to 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. Ohio should be no different. Consumers 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 consumers information about how milk was produced leaves consumers without the information they need to make informed choices."

[Jill]

This is horrible, the European Union bans the use of this hormone completely along with Cananda, our federal government provides the opportunity for the use of it in our products but allows for labeling and now Monsanto is trying to take away our rights one state at a time?
Also, no one talks about the impact of this artificial hormone on the animals themselves. It causes them stress and leads to shorter lives. That is something that can be proven.....

Everyone needs to contact the following Senators in Johnson County and all Senators on the Agriculture Committee as well as Senate Leadership immediatly; this bill must not make it out of committee.......for the sake of all of our families.

towens10@kc.rr.com, jvratil@lathropegage.com, julia@senatorjulialynn.com, allen@senate.state.ks.us, lynn@senate.state.ks.us, vratil@senate.state.ks.us, owens@senate.state.ks.us, jordan@senate.state.ks.us, jordanforcongress@nickjordan.com, wilson@senate.state.ks.us

[ExPat Chef]

Thanks, Jill!

[Kelsey]

The Kansas Agriculture Committee has scheduled a hearing on the bill (595) for Tuesday morning at 8:30am in the Capital Room 423s. If anyone wants to testify, the best thing to do is call the chairs secretary at 785-296-7371 to get on the list. If you cannot make it to the hearing you may want to contact those on the Ag committee to share your thoughts.

[Laura]

Just wondering what happened yesterday...has anyone heard? I really hope it didn't pass.

[expatchef]

Thanks, at this point both sides have finally had a say. Monday, they sent the opponents to the bill away without hearing any testimony. Only those in favor of the bill got to speak. Pretty lousy approach, especially for the folks who drove 100 miles one-way to speak. Things went well today, from what I hear, and there are more items in the press coming. I'll keep track of it!

[Mona]

This issue has also come up on the MO side, so the Missouri Rural Crisis Center has organized a Lobby Day at the State Capitol.

Here are the details:
Family Farm Lobby Day
March 31st, 2008
1:30-4PM
Missouri State Capitol-First Floor Rotunda

Join Family Farmers, Rural Citizens & Consumers in Support of Missouri’s Family Farms, Healthy Food and Rural Values!
Details available at http://www.slowfoodstl.org/2008/03/17/family-farm-lobby-day/

****Please let us know if you can attend by emailing us at timgibbons@morural.org, or call (573) 449-1336.****