Comments on: Breast Cancer, rBGH and Yoplait: Put a Lid on It http://www.ourbodiesourblog.org/blog/2008/09/breast-cancer-rbgh-and-yoplait-put-a-lid-on-it Daily dose of women's health news and media analysis Thu, 18 Mar 2010 20:25:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Lyle Ruprecht http://www.ourbodiesourblog.org/blog/2008/09/breast-cancer-rbgh-and-yoplait-put-a-lid-on-it/comment-page-1#comment-1000 Lyle Ruprecht Fri, 13 Feb 2009 17:55:07 +0000 http://www.ourbodiesourblog.org/?p=1444#comment-1000 As a nutritionist for dairy cattle with a good understanding of biology I have a unique perspective on this issue. Although it sounds scary, rBGH is safe. If you look at the science behind IGF-1, IGF-1 made by your own body proliferates cancer cells along with all other cells. Consuming IGF-1 does not change your body's level of IGF-1. To reduce IGF-1 in your body your best bet is to reduce the amount of calories you eat. Furthermore, if you test milk for IGF-1 from individual farms it is impossible to determine which farm uses rBGH and which farm doesn't because there are a whole host of factors which affect IGF-1 level in milk - rBGH use is insignificant. Admittedly, when activist groups spin facts about rBGH it sounds horrible. If you take time to read the scientific journal articles they reference they are nothing more than spin doctors not telling the whole truth. Working as a consultant to some farmers that use rBGH and some that don't - I would say that the farmers that use rBGH tend to have healthier cattle and use less antibiotics for sick cows. This is because they are generally the better managers - rBGH use is insignificant. The clueless mob of public opinion can go on their witch hunt and criticize General Mills for not going rBGH free with their products, but for me I'm going to enjoy my pineapple upside-down cake, blackberry and boston cheesecake knowing that they are perfectly safe. As a nutritionist for dairy cattle with a good understanding of biology I have a unique perspective on this issue. Although it sounds scary, rBGH is safe. If you look at the science behind IGF-1, IGF-1 made by your own body proliferates cancer cells along with all other cells. Consuming IGF-1 does not change your body’s level of IGF-1. To reduce IGF-1 in your body your best bet is to reduce the amount of calories you eat. Furthermore, if you test milk for IGF-1 from individual farms it is impossible to determine which farm uses rBGH and which farm doesn’t because there are a whole host of factors which affect IGF-1 level in milk – rBGH use is insignificant. Admittedly, when activist groups spin facts about rBGH it sounds horrible. If you take time to read the scientific journal articles they reference they are nothing more than spin doctors not telling the whole truth. Working as a consultant to some farmers that use rBGH and some that don’t – I would say that the farmers that use rBGH tend to have healthier cattle and use less antibiotics for sick cows. This is because they are generally the better managers – rBGH use is insignificant.
The clueless mob of public opinion can go on their witch hunt and criticize General Mills for not going rBGH free with their products, but for me I’m going to enjoy my pineapple upside-down cake, blackberry and boston cheesecake knowing that they are perfectly safe.

]]> By: Elizabeth Dehart http://www.ourbodiesourblog.org/blog/2008/09/breast-cancer-rbgh-and-yoplait-put-a-lid-on-it/comment-page-1#comment-749 Elizabeth Dehart Wed, 05 Nov 2008 20:32:34 +0000 http://www.ourbodiesourblog.org/?p=1444#comment-749 Bravo, Margie. Bravo, Margie.

]]> By: Vance http://www.ourbodiesourblog.org/blog/2008/09/breast-cancer-rbgh-and-yoplait-put-a-lid-on-it/comment-page-1#comment-742 Vance Tue, 28 Oct 2008 20:07:45 +0000 http://www.ourbodiesourblog.org/?p=1444#comment-742 Removing rBGH is laudable but it's a red herring where cancer is concerned. There's no such thing as hormone-free cow's milk. Cow's milk naturally has growth hormones because it's a food specifically designed to help cells multiply quickly and get a small calf to grow to a large sturdy animal in a short amount of time. Cancer cells benefit from this effect just as surely as other cells. The solution is stop consuming food products with growth hormones in them. Cut out dairy altogether to avoid breast cancer and other cancers. Removing rBGH is laudable but it’s a red herring where cancer is concerned.

There’s no such thing as hormone-free cow’s milk. Cow’s milk naturally has growth hormones because it’s a food specifically designed to help cells multiply quickly and get a small calf to grow to a large sturdy animal in a short amount of time. Cancer cells benefit from this effect just as surely as other cells.

The solution is stop consuming food products with growth hormones in them. Cut out dairy altogether to avoid breast cancer and other cancers.

]]> By: Caroline Skinner http://www.ourbodiesourblog.org/blog/2008/09/breast-cancer-rbgh-and-yoplait-put-a-lid-on-it/comment-page-1#comment-730 Caroline Skinner Thu, 23 Oct 2008 02:36:16 +0000 http://www.ourbodiesourblog.org/?p=1444#comment-730 Elizabeth Dehart says General Mills does not care. They will care if enough consumers contact them to complain about use of rBGH. We have already seen that here in Portland, Oregon where a respectful postcard campaign has helped dairy consumers let local suppliers know we don't want rBGH in the dairy products we purchase for ourselves and our families. The use of rBGH in addition to the pink ribbon on the Yoplait container is especially bad and must not go unaddressed. If this offends you, let them know! And insist on purchasing dairy products free of rBGH. The precautionary principle, more used in Europe, says we need to use least-toxic options and not take chances with our health. It's up to us as grocery shoppers to shape what stores offer. Elizabeth Dehart says General Mills does not care. They will care if enough consumers contact them to complain about use of rBGH. We have already seen that here in Portland, Oregon where a respectful postcard campaign has helped dairy consumers let local suppliers know we don’t want rBGH in the dairy products we purchase for ourselves and our families. The use of rBGH in addition to the pink ribbon on the Yoplait container is especially bad and must not go unaddressed. If this offends you, let them know! And insist on purchasing dairy products free of rBGH. The precautionary principle, more used in Europe, says we need to use least-toxic options and not take chances with our health. It’s up to us as grocery shoppers to shape what stores offer.

]]> By: Margie http://www.ourbodiesourblog.org/blog/2008/09/breast-cancer-rbgh-and-yoplait-put-a-lid-on-it/comment-page-1#comment-704 Margie Tue, 14 Oct 2008 13:47:14 +0000 http://www.ourbodiesourblog.org/?p=1444#comment-704 Corporate America makes me want to scream. Especially their insipid form letters. No you morons can you read? I said I was never buying your product again; therefore, I will not continue to enjoy your garbage. Corporate America makes me want to scream. Especially their insipid form letters. No you morons can you read? I said I was never buying your product again; therefore, I will not continue to enjoy your garbage.

]]> By: Elizabeth Dehart http://www.ourbodiesourblog.org/blog/2008/09/breast-cancer-rbgh-and-yoplait-put-a-lid-on-it/comment-page-1#comment-702 Elizabeth Dehart Mon, 13 Oct 2008 22:37:06 +0000 http://www.ourbodiesourblog.org/?p=1444#comment-702 They don't care. Why do I say that you ask? They have a form letter that myself and several friends have recieved: "Thank you for contacting General Mills concerning BST. BST (bovine somatotropin) is a hormone naturally found in cows. The synthetic version of this hormone (not to be confused with a steroid hormone) has been subjected to extensive testing. The Food & Drug Administration, American Medical Association, National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Department of Agriculture along with a number of other science-based organizations have concluded that there are no food safety issues in conjunction with milk produced by BST-supplemented cows. Because BST is naturally found in all cows milk, there is no scientific way to test the milk to determine if the BST present is from synthetic sources or natural sources. The amount of BST present in milk will not be greater from a synthetic source than it would be occurring naturally. For more information about Bovine Somatotropin (BST) or Bovine Growth Hormone (BGH) you may wish to visit the United States Department of Agriculture website at http://www.usda.gov. We hope you will continue to enjoy our products. Sincerely, General Mills Consumer Services" They don’t care. Why do I say that you ask?

They have a form letter that myself and several friends have recieved:

“Thank you for contacting General Mills concerning BST.

BST (bovine somatotropin) is a hormone naturally found in cows. The synthetic version of this hormone (not to be confused with a steroid hormone) has been subjected to extensive testing. The Food & Drug Administration, American Medical Association, National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Department of Agriculture along with a number of other science-based organizations have concluded that there are no food safety issues in conjunction with milk produced by BST-supplemented cows.

Because BST is naturally found in all cows milk, there is no scientific way to test the milk to determine if the BST present is from synthetic sources or natural sources. The amount of BST present in milk will not be greater from a synthetic source than it would be occurring naturally.

For more information about Bovine Somatotropin (BST) or Bovine Growth Hormone (BGH) you may wish to visit the United States Department of Agriculture website at http://www.usda.gov.

We hope you will continue to enjoy our products.

Sincerely,
General Mills Consumer Services”

]]> By: Jacqueline http://www.ourbodiesourblog.org/blog/2008/09/breast-cancer-rbgh-and-yoplait-put-a-lid-on-it/comment-page-1#comment-682 Jacqueline Sun, 28 Sep 2008 19:27:31 +0000 http://www.ourbodiesourblog.org/?p=1444#comment-682 I am so glad to see this issue get the spotlight treatment. I cringe whenever I see teflon-coated pink cookware and toxic cans of Campbell's chicken noodle soup all decked with a pretty pink label. I am so glad to see this issue get the spotlight treatment. I cringe whenever I see teflon-coated pink cookware and toxic cans of Campbell’s chicken noodle soup all decked with a pretty pink label.

]]> By: jan http://www.ourbodiesourblog.org/blog/2008/09/breast-cancer-rbgh-and-yoplait-put-a-lid-on-it/comment-page-1#comment-681 jan Sun, 28 Sep 2008 19:06:51 +0000 http://www.ourbodiesourblog.org/?p=1444#comment-681 Thank you for bringing this to our attention. In the meantime, one could buy Canadian as rBGH is not used in Canada. It was voted down. Thank you for bringing this to our attention. In the meantime, one could buy Canadian as rBGH is not used in Canada. It was voted down.

]]> By: Margie http://www.ourbodiesourblog.org/blog/2008/09/breast-cancer-rbgh-and-yoplait-put-a-lid-on-it/comment-page-1#comment-678 Margie Thu, 25 Sep 2008 15:45:34 +0000 http://www.ourbodiesourblog.org/?p=1444#comment-678 Welsh Farms dairy from NJ sold at CVS is also hormone free. Welsh Farms dairy from NJ sold at CVS is also hormone free.

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