Is rBST in our Milk Supply Safe or not?

Milk from cows treated with growth hormone hormone not only is identical to other milk, but is also more environmentally friendly, according to the scientific study sponsored by Elanco, company that bought business of Monsanto growth hormone on last year.

Like all other plant and animal proteins in human diet, BST is destroyed during digestion. Therefore has no effect on people who consume it. In addition, BST is inactive in humans even when injected: distribution of bovine somatotropin is significantly different from that of human growth hormone, and human cells cannot identify or react to bovine hormone. (Schubert p.25)

Recently, attention has turned to activist's insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1), the protein hormone. This hormone, which is stimulated by natural GMT converts nutrients in milk. Humans and cows have IGF-1. Although additional PDT is an increase in IGF-1 levels in milk from cows treated, treatment of cows with hormone increases level of IGF-1 in milk at only two to five parts by more than levels naturally found in untreated cows billion.

Fear of increased levels of IGF-1 in milk is, in fact, led to the scare, as IGF-1, estrogen, and organochlorines in milk have been linked to breast cancer. FDA has rejected this scare, however, and concluded that claim that milk IGF-1 promotes breast cancer is scientifically unfounded.

Despite body of scientific evidence and approval of BST by FDA, risks are focused on use of hormone in milk production is likely to continue for arrest of citizens on use of biotechnology improve food supply. Continuing concern is evidenced by the label on box of cream every Ben & Jerry's of products the label indicating company's commitment to use of "natural ingredients" and expressing disapproval of use of BST in milk cow.

Recombinant bovine somatotropin (rBST) is the synthetic version of bovine somatotropin (BST), the hormone found in cattle. hormone is used by many commercial dairies to increase milk production. Has been marketed under various names, but most consumers know it as rBST or BST. use of rBST has met with some controversy from the variety of fronts, including animal rights movement and some commercial dairy farmers. As the result, dairies that produce milk without use of rBST have started showing it on their labels. While rBST has been banned in several countries, Environmental Protection Agency of United States has determined it is safe to consume. (Sheridan9-10)

BST is the naturally occurring hormone in pituitary glands of all cows. Researchers who studied BST in cows found that cows with high levels of hormone that produces more milk. They also found that BST is extracted from the cow and injected into another would result in higher levels of milk production of cows treated Esp. increased milk production per cow was attractive to some producers of milk and as the result, synthesized BST was developed by recombinant DNA of bacteria to make them produce hormone. This synthetic BST, or rBST, was then tested in dairy cattle. In U.S., Federal Department of Agriculture ...