Super Eco

rBGH is the abbreviation for recombinant bovine growth hormone. It is a synthetic growth hormone for cows used to increase milk production. The natural version of rBGH is rBST and the two terms are sometimes used interchangeably. The FDA approved rBGH for use in dairy cows in 1993 and the debate about its safety for humans has gone on almost as long. Some of the concerns associated with rBGH are:

• increased health problems in cows such as udder infections and reproductive problems
• increased treatment of cows with antibiotics (due to increased health issues) which causes an increase of antibiotic residues in dairy products which some people are allergic to
• contributing to the growth of antibiotic resistant bacteria due to antibiotic residues in milk products
• elevated levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) which has been shown to be an important factor in the growth of breast, colon and prostate cancers.

The Center for Food Safety is against rBGH use and through it, many groups have petitioned the FDA for more strict food labeling at the very least. Companies like Ben & Jerry's are against rBGH too and claim to keep it out of the products they sell. There has been much talk over the fact that Starbucks does not use rBGH-free milk as the norm and charges customers more for organic and soy options. The most you can find out about milk from the Starbucks website is the nutritional information so ask your local barrista what is in stock normally.

Many smaller dairies and organic dairies, like Horizon Organic, offer rBGH-free milk. As with anything else, if you are concerned about rBGH, do your research and don't just trust what the package tells you.