Sashagay Mckenzie
Eng101
Dr. Lizzie Mcormick
June 1, 2010
Words 1,160
Growth What is Recombinant Bovine Hormone?
Recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone (RBGH), also known as Rsbt, is the genetically engineered growth hormone developed by the Monsanto Company to increase milk production in cows, and sold under the name Posilac. The FDA decision to approve RBGH, despite the fact that it leads to cancer and is dangerous to animals, should be reversed.

Monsanto is notorious for marketing dangerous products while falsely claiming safety. RBGH was never properly tested before FDA allowed it on the market. A standard cancer test of a new human drug requires two years of testing with several hundreds of rats, but RBGH was tested for only 90 days on 30 rats (Rachel 593). Injection of this genetically engineered hormone forces cows to artificially increase their milk production by 10 to 15 percent (Avery 2). This hormone puts animals and humans at risk. It has been well documented by Monsanto and others that RBGH treated cows undergo several changes, for example, they are likely to develop mastitis, a painful bacterial infection of the udder which causes inflammation, swelling, pus, and blood secretion into milk (Rachel 593). In order to treat mastitis, the dairy industries rely on antibiotics which end up in the milk. When these cows are treated with antibiotics they experience these extreme levels of bacterial sickness while they are producing milk. Produce milk containing elevated levels of natural growth factor IGF-1, which is readily absorbed through the gut. Excessive levels of IGF-1 have been incriminated as a cause of breast, colon, and prostate cancer in human.

Children, pregnant women and the unborn are thought to be most susceptible to these negative health effects. Hormone residues in beef have implicated in the early onset of puberty in girls, which could put them at greater risk of developing breast and other forms of cancer.

While RBGH is still being used in the United States, it is banned in the countries like Canada, the European Union, Australia, and New Zealand. In October 1994, the FDA issued regulation that made it appear to be illegal to label milk RBGH produced or RBGH free. On February 1, 1998, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture issued new rules which allowed producers to inform consumers if they used RBGH or if their milk was produced naturally and in sustainable manner. Dairy companies must maintain procedures to verify any production methods claimed on their labels (Wade 122).

There has been consumer revolt against this hormone. Dozens of retailer and dairy processors are no longer using RBGH products. These companies include Starbucks, Chipotle Restaurant, Darigold, Tillamok among others (593). Wal-Mart, Kroger, Kraft and others have started offering RBGH free product lines in their stores (Wade 118). We as parents can also participate in helping our children schools and community supermarkets go RBGH free. One way is to call their school’s Food Service Directors and ask them if the school is buying milk that is RBGH free and give them guidelines to let them know schools can purchase RBGH free milk. We can also talk to the school’s wellness committee, and go to one of their meetings with other parents and recommend that they change the wellness policy to include buying RBGH free milk. When we go grocery shopping, we should purchase the items that are labeled RBGH free, Rbst free, and produced without artificial growth hormones.

In conclusion Recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone was not properly tested and should not be present in the food we eat. This genetically engineered hormone that is injected in cows to increase milk production is dangerous for our health. Although the FDA approves this hormone, the fact is leads to cancer and is dangerous to animals and human being.