Consumers Union, 29 groups ask Sebelius to veto hormone milk bill

Consumers Union, which publishes Consumer Reports and Consumerist, has sent a long letter to Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius regarding Kansas House Bill 2121. Twenty-nine groups involved in agricultural and food production added their signatures to a copy and sent it as well.

The letters have to do with milk labeling. HB 2121 would require producers who say their cows were not treated with rBGT, rBST or other hormones to add this disclaimer: “The Food and Drug Administration has

determined there are no significant differences between milk from cows

that receive injections of the artificial hormone and milk from those

that do not.”

The letters say it is imperative that Sebelius veto the bill. Some highlights:

We feel that HB 2121 puts unnecessary obstacles in the way of consumers

getting the information they want, restricts free speech rights of

dairies and processors, and interferes with the smooth functioning of

free markets.

…The American Nurses Association, Center For Food Safety, Food and Water

Watch, National Family Farm Coalition, Humane Society of the U.S. and

many other organizations have all officially opposed the use of rbGH.

Consumers Union (publisher of Consumer Reports), has said that FDA

should suspend approval of rbGH until new evidence (since approval in

1994) related to human safety can be evaluated.

An impressive list, but Consumers Union is just getting warmed up.