Monsanto Knew Bovine Growth Hormone Was Harmful To Humans

[one...two...tree 2,762]

What is rBGH?

Recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone is a genetically engineered copy of a naturally occurring hormone produced by cows. Manufactured by Monsanto Company, the drug is sold to dairy farmers under the name POSILAC, though you'll also find it called BGH, rBGH, BST and rBST. When rBGH gets injected into dairy cows, milk production increases by as much as 10-15%. The use of rBGH on dairy cows was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in late 1993 and has been in use since 1994.

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While rBGH is banned in Europe and Canada, and has been boycotted by 95 percent of US dairy farmers, the FDA, Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Agriculture continue to license the drug (and other new genetically engineered foods) without pre-market safety tests. Thanks to industry pressure, genetically engineered foods are NOT required to carry identifying labels. According to the US Federal Office of Management and Budget the projected increase in milk production caused by rBGH introduction will cost American taxpayers an additional $116 million of dollars for further price supports in 1995 alone. And what about the cows? rBGH use will cause suffering to millions of animals: rBGH is like "crack" for cows. It "revs" their system and forces them to produce a lot more milk - but it also makes them sick. Even the FDA admits that cows injected with rBGH could suffer from increased udder infections (mastitis), severe reproductive problems, digestive disorders, foot and leg ailments, and persistent sores and lacerations.

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"There have been no long term studies of BGH's effects on humans. The congressional General Accounting Office has warned of the potential human health hazards from the consumption of milk or flesh (about 40% of the beef used to make hamburgers come from "old" dairy cows) derived from BGH-treated cows. The Consumer's Union went on to state that the FDA should not have even approved it. BGH "treatment" causes significantly increased levels of another growth hormone called IGF-1 in the milk, according to a 1990 study sponsored by Monsanto and published in Science. Bovine IGF-1 is identical to the IGF-1 naturally found in humans."

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* rBGH makes cows sick. Monsanto has been forced to admit to about 20 veterinary health risks on its Posilac label including mastitis and udder inflammation.

* rBGH milk is contaminated by pus from mastitis induced by rBGH, and antibiotics used to treat the mastitis.

* rBGH milk is contaminated by the GE hormone which can be absorbed through the gut and induce immunological effects.

* rBGH milk is chemically and nutritionally very different from natural milk.

* rBGH milk is supercharged with high levels of a natural growth factor (IGF-1), excess levels of which have been incriminated as major causes of breast, colon, and prostate cancers.

* rBGH factory farms pose a major threat to the viability of small dairy farms. Thus, rBGH

enriches Monsanto while posing risks but no benefits to the entire U.S. population.

.

The health hazards to animals, the detriment to small farms, the cover-up in Monsanto, all the negatives attached to rGBH are in no way balanced by any benefits of increased milk production in view of the national surplus.

http://www.shirleys-wellness-cafe.com/bgh.htm

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Steven,

Can you find me a link with similar information from a mainstream website people have actually heard of?

Thanks.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Steven,

Can you find me a link with similar information from a mainstream website people have actually heard of?

Thanks.

Sojourners...

http://www.sojo.net/index.cfm?action=sojom...mp;issue=031029

Wikipedia...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bovine_somatotropin

Scientific American...

http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?articleID...CC583414B7F0000

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

sciam, excellent. Thanks.

[Heartland 0]

I had heard of this before, about 5 years ago when I belonged to a food co-op. We lived in rural Michigan with plenty of farms. I knew lots of women who had heard of this hormone given to cows for increase in milk production. They told me not to even buy cheese that wasnt labled RGBH free... So I use to order my dairy products with the lable RGBH free... Now if we can only get all the ####### out of the meats!!!!

Wendy

Steven,

Can you find me a link with similar information from a mainstream website people have actually heard of?

Thanks.

Sojourners...

http://www.sojo.net/index.cfm?action=sojom...mp;issue=031029

Wikipedia...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bovine_somatotropin

Scientific American...

http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?articleID...CC583414B7F0000

[Caladan 19]

My aunt can't eat beef or drink milk because of the hormones, she thinks. I'm glad that I'm somewhat less sensitive to it, and I'm glad milk is labelled rBGH.

I also think that genetically engineered produce should be labelled. Most of it is safe, but it's nice to know what's been genetically altered (instead of just bred). Let me make my own decision about it.

[ChristinaM 0]

Ari, this is not new news. There are reasons these substances are banned in Europe and Canada, and it's not just paranoia. Just because it comes from an obscure website don't always make it propaganda

I also think that genetically engineered produce should be labelled. Most of it is safe, but it's nice to know what's been genetically altered (instead of just bred). Let me make my own decision about it.

Damn straight.

Edited January 15, 2007 by ChristinaM

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I think the executives at Monsanto should be criminally investigated for knowlingly witholding the conclusive results from their own studies on the dangers of rbgh on humans. We see this happen over and over and over...corporations (Tobacco Industry) that will go to any length to maximize profit, regardless of the consequences to the environment and humans.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

In a report published in the current issue of the Journal of Reproductive Medicine, Steinman argues that insulin-like growth factor, a protein released by the liver in response to growth hormone, may be the reason. Studies have shown that the protein increases ovulation and that it persists in the body after entering via digested food, particularly milk. Drinking a glass of milk a day over a 12-week period raised levels of the protein in the body by 10 percent. Vegan women, it turns out, have 13 percent lower concentrations of it in their blood.

Steinman observed in the May 6 issue of The Lancet that although the twinning rate in the U.K.--where bovine growth hormone is banned--rose by 16 percent between 1992 and 2001, it increased by 32 percent in the U.S., where the substance is not banned. Of the new work he says: "This study shows for the first time that the chance of having twins is affected both by heredity and environment or, in other words, by both nature and nurture."

http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?articleID...&sc=I100322

[Saddle Bronc 124]

I think the executives at Monsanto should be criminally investigated for knowlingly witholding the conclusive results from their own studies on the dangers of rbgh on humans. We see this happen over and over and over...corporations (Tobacco Industry) that will go to any length to maximize profit, regardless of the consequences to the environment and humans.

With tobacco, it's even worse in one sense.

There was conclusive evidence of tobacco causing lung cancer as far back as the 1930's; "fortunately" for the tobacco industry, the research was done by scientists in employ of Hitler's Nazi government--which was the first country to actually implement ban/restrictions on tobacco.

(in this case, one could say that the results were neutral--despite of the regime which sponsored the study--except to tobacco industry).

Edited January 16, 2007 by CherryXS

[thai2luv 0]

You've only begun to scratch the surface of the Monsanto Company. Do a google search for RoundUp Ready and enjoy the reading.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

You've only begun to scratch the surface of the Monsanto Company. Do a google search for RoundUp Ready and enjoy the reading.

Yes, I have read up on Monsanto, but I see it as a larger problem - the legal definition of what a corporation is and what kind of legal rights it has.

[Identity 0]

America. Potemkin village.

Information like this makes for good story telling anyone presses for information on my experience in the U.S.

Free country, huh?

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

I wonder if those HORMONES might have something to do with those MELTING GLACIERS? I'm off to put down some pre-spring fertilizer on my yard. Hopefully the cows dont eat it. MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE.

Edited January 16, 2007 by CarolsMarc

[one...two...tree 2,762]

America. Potemkin village.

Information like this makes for good story telling anyone presses for information on my experience in the U.S.

Free country, huh?

Corporations are ruining this country, but I'm hopeful we can take away their power and influence in government before it's too late.

Some disturbing facts...

Former Monsanto employees currently hold positions in government agencies such as the FDA and EPA and even the Supreme Court. These include Clarence Thomas, Michael Taylor, Ann Veneman, Linda Fisher, and Mickey Cantor. Linda Fisher has even been back and forth between positions at Monsanto and the EPA.

Donald Rumsfeld reportedly earned $12 million, when G. D. Searle & Company was sold to Monsanto.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monsanto