Press Release Summary = The banned hormone rBGH is widely used in the world milk
industry according to new book.
Press Release Body = In the USA cows are regularly injected with rBGH (Recombitant
Bovine Growth Hormone). This dramatically increases the amount of bovine grown
hormones produced in dairy milk, and it is estimated that 90% of USA milk comes from
rBGH cows.
This hormone (also known as rBST or Posilac) is given to cows to increase milk
production by as much as 15 - 20%. The U.S. FDA approved the rBGH drug in 1993, but
many countries are concerned about its safety on health (both human animal).
Although rBGH is allowed in the USA, it is banned in the European Union, New
Zealand, Australia, Japan, and other countries although many farmers worldwide are
known to flaunt the rules.
The hormone is also banned in Canada, but unfortunately for Canadians, this does not
stop rBGH getting into Canadian milk. Canada banned using growth hormones in dairy
cows in 1999, but this country has harmonized its regulations with those of the
United States, allowing U.S. milk with rBGH to be shipped and sold into Canada.
In a speech given by Dr. Samuel Epstein (Emeritus professor, Univ. of Illinois, USA)
at an Environmental Conference held in Ottawa, Canada on June 10, 2006, he stated
that rBGH treatments 'may allow some of the drug itself to enter the milk, but it
also tends to cause ill effects in the cattle, which then need more antibiotics
drugs that can also enter the milk. Apart from all the other [harmful stuff] in
milk, you'll find pus cells and antibiotics, [and an increased] risk of colon,
breast and prostate cancers.' Dr Epstein has also stated that 'rBGH is like "crack"
for cows. Bi-weekly shots "rev" up their system and force them to produce more milk
for perhaps a few years, and then their milk production declines dramatically as
they get sick.'
As with Canada, there is no ban on the importation of rBGH milk into Europe, and in
fact some large coffee-shop chains do this. Also, many legally imported milk
powders and dairy products contain rBGH. Therefore, if you consume dairy milk and
dairy products it is difficult to escape rBGH wherever you live.
The dairy industry may argue that most rBGH is destroyed in pasteurization. But
studies show that a large percentage does not get destroyed. Worse still, the
harmful bovine growth hormones (dramatically boosted by rBGH) are not destroyed by
pasteurization and get fully passed into milk and dairy products.
As shown in the book The Milk Imperative, there is abundant research showing the
harm caused by rBGH, and many doctors concur. For example, Dr. Joseph Mercola
(licensed Osteopathic physician and board-certified in family medicine) has stated
that rBGH 'increases the levels of cancer-causing agents and other dangerous
chemicals in milk.' And Dr. Michael Lam (USA), MD, MPH, ABAAM, CNCT, says 'the
widespread use of rBGH has been linked to the proliferation of breast, prostate, and
colon cancer cells in humans.'
2012
