Terry Etherton
Retail food prices at the supermarket increased in the first quarter of 2008, according to the latest American Farm Bureau Federation Marketbasket Survey. The informal survey shows the total cost of 16 basic grocery items in the first quarter of 2008 was $45.03, up about 8 percent or $3.42 from the fourth quarter of 2007. Continue reading Food Costs Increase and the “Smoke and Mirrors” of rbST-Free Milk Marketing Rolls On…and On…and On
Category Archives: rbST Public Discussion
Milk: Let the Buyer (the Environment and the Cow) Beware
John Fetrow VMD, MBA
Professor of Dairy Medicine
College of Veterinary Medicine
University of Minnesota
1365 Gortner Ave.
St. Paul, Minnesota 55108
Terry D. Etherton, Ph.D.
Department Head & Distinguished Professor of Animal Nutrition
Department of Dairy & Animal Science
324 W.L. Henning Bldg
Penn State University
University Park, PA 16802
Milk is probably the most pure, wholesome, safe, highly regulated, inspected, and most carefully handled food that any of us consume. Dairy products provide a wealth of nutrients, including protein, energy, vitamins, and minerals. Even the butterfat in milk contains substances that may reduce cancer risks and help prevent obesity. Continue reading Milk: Let the Buyer (the Environment and the Cow) Beware
Orion Samuelson of WGN Radio on the Use of rbST
The following podcast features Orion Samuelson of WGN Radio discussing the use of recombinant bovine somatotropin (rbST).
Orion Samuelson is heard on WGN Radio, where he has served as Agribusiness Director since 1960. He and his associate, Max Armstrong, present 15 agricultural/business reports daily on WGN. They also host the hour-long Morning Show and Noon Show, both heard on Saturdays on WGN. Orion is also heard daily on more than 260 radio stations with his syndicated National Farm Report and on 110 stations with his syndicated Samuelson Sez. Orion and Max are seen weekly on rural channel RFD-TV, carried on Dish-TV and DirecTV on This Week in Agribusiness.
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WHYY Radio Interview on PDA’s Ruling Regarding Labeling of MilK
The following podcast is of an interview with Dr. Terry Etherton on WHYY Radio in Philadelphia. This interview took place on January 15, 2008.
Summary from WHYY: The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture recently ruled that dairies that do not inject their cattle with synthetic growth hormone can no longer label their milk as hormone-free. The decision, which has been put on hold until the beginning of February, raises serious questions for consumers, dairy farmers, and retailers. We talk to TERRY ETHERTON of Penn State University.
Labels Aren’t Big Enough To Tell The Truth
By TERRY D. ETHERTON, Ph.D.
My editorial reply to the Centre Daily Times, State College, PA
(Published in the January 21, 2008 issue of the Centre Daily Times)
Your editorial (Truth is spilled over milk, published on January 3, 2008) overlooked a lot of truths and passed on a few half truths as well.
The biggest overlooked truth is that the controversy over milk labeling has more to do with company profits than with consumer demand. The truth is that milk companies have forced farmers to stop using recombinant bovine somatotropin (rbST) so that the companies can imply through advertising that their milk is better than some other company’s milk. This disingenuous advertising — “hormone free,” “no artificial hormones,” etc. – is fully aimed at customers who cannot be expected to know all the facts about rbST. There is a bothersome fact that undermines this advertising strategy: All milk contains hormones —the same hormones in the same amounts, irrespective of whether the cow has been supplemented with rbST. This includes organic milk and milk from cows not supplemented with rbST. Even vitamin D, which is used to fortify milk, is a hormone. Continue reading Labels Aren’t Big Enough To Tell The Truth
Pennsylvania Milk Labeling Law a Positive Step
Editorial from Hoard’s Dairyman
January 10, 2008 Issue
Kudos to Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Dennis Wolff for his department’s announcement that it will not allow dairy retailers to market milk with so-called “absence labels” in the state. Wolff, a dairy farmer himself, said that his department reviewed 140 labels and found 16 of them false or misleading. This announcement covered labels promising milk to be free of certain things such as artificial hormones, antibiotics, or pesticides. Continue reading Pennsylvania Milk Labeling Law a Positive Step
Milk Market Moos – The Best and Worst about 2007
SHERRY BUNTING
Published in Farmshine (December 21, 2007 issue)
The purpose of this column is to discuss news affecting dairy marketing and prices. Before digging in, let’s reflect on the season and the yearend state of the dairy business…
New and value-added products in the dairy case are receiving good demand from consumers. Record exports brought record prices to overseas markets. And dairy farmers received record prices for their milk. 2007 has been a good year: particularly welcome after the abysmal losses of 2006.
But there’s something else 2007 will be known for: unease and potential division based on differences in production practices.
The milk labeling issue – and the uncertainty and controversy it brings to technologies like rbST – are overshadowing what would otherwise be a banner year. Continue reading Milk Market Moos – The Best and Worst about 2007
rbST and Milk Labeling – A View from Ohio
Lyle Ruprecht
20009 Mishey Road
Butler, Ohio 44822
I am writing this letter as a concerned member of the dairy industry regarding misinformation surrounding the topic of recombinant bovine somatotropin (rBST). As a member of the Ohio Department of Agriculture’s Dairy Label Review Committee, I have done a large amount of research on the topic of rBST and the FDA’s guidance on labeling relating to the use of rBST. Continue reading rbST and Milk Labeling – A View from Ohio
Food Labeling Needs to be Addressed
Dieter Krieg
Published in Farmshine (December 7, 2007 issue)
On the one hand, I agree and support Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff’s efforts to clear some issues regarding the labels on dairy products.
On the other hand, I understand and sympathize with those who aren’t exactly thrilled with what he is attempting to do.
There are valid reasons and good arguments on both sides of this issue. Nevertheless, there’s no denying that something needs to be done about the way many foods are labeled today — not just dairy products. Continue reading Food Labeling Needs to be Addressed
Busted: rbST Milk Myth Machine is Revealed
Dr. Normand St-Pierre
Dairy Management Specialist
The Ohio State University
The Buckeye Dairy News, November 2007, Volume 9, Issue 4
If you believe the headlines of most major newspapers and magazines, the U.S. consumer is against the use of biotechnology in agriculture and prefers that his/her food be grown in a natural and organic fashion. Continue reading Busted: rbST Milk Myth Machine is Revealed