State eyes Monsanto complaint on dairy program

AUGUSTA – State officials say they are still reviewing a request by chemical maker Monsanto to suspend use of the state’s dairy Quality Trademark Seal program as well as the company’s request to initiate legal proceedings against Oakhurst and Hood for alleged unfair trade practices because they use the seal.

Charles Dow of the state Attorney General’s Office acknowledged receipt of the letter from the St. Louis-based Monsanto and that it is under review.

The letter was sent to Attorney General Steven Rowe and Agriculture Commissioner Robert Spear recently.

It outlines Monsanto’s position that the use of artificial growth hormones in milk-producing cows is a marketing issue, not a food safety issue.

Monsanto maintains that use of the seal, which indicates that milk does not contain artificial growth hormones, generically known as recombinant bovine growth hormones or rBGH, misleads consumers into thinking that hormone-free milk is superior to milk from producers using rBGH.

Monsanto also maintains that milk from cows treated with the Monsanto-produced product, POSILAC 1 STEP, is equivalent in all respects to other milk, and that two Maine processors, H.P. Hood and Oakhurst Dairy, are engaging in unfair trade practices by using the labels.

Some organizations that oppose use of artificial growth hormones – such as the Organic Consumers Union, Consumers International, the Center for Food Safety, the American Humane Association, Family Farm Defenders, Greenpeace and the Humane Society of the United States – claim they are linked to breast cancer and premature puberty in children.

They state that cows injected with rBGH produce milk with lower protein content and higher levels of IGF-1 – a suspected carcinogen – and farmers are required to give more antibiotics to cows on rBGH.

Both Canada and the European Union have banned use of rBGH since it was approved for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 1993.

Spear said Saturday that when the issue of rBGH and other artificial growth hormones was raised initially more than a decade ago, the Dairy Quality Trademark Seal “was a compromise. Instead of either banning the use of growth hormones or endorsing their use, producers could take a stand via the quality seal.”

The seal is allowed only on milk from farmers who provide affidavits that they are not giving their milking herd artificial hormones.

Monsanto, the Biotechnology Association of Maine and three dairy farms indicate in their letter to Rowe and Spear that those affidavits are impossible to authenticate.

Spear said he is trying to remain neutral on the issue until the Attorney General’s Office determines the legality of Monsanto’s request.

“All milk contains some small level of naturally existing growth hormone. The bottom line in this debate is does the use of rBGH affect the quality of milk,” said Spear. Both Oakhurst and Hood advertise that their producers sign a contract pledging not to use artificial hormones.

“I think producers are getting plenty of mileage out of the advertising, but I also believe the quality seal is very important to many consumers. It is a personal decision,” Spear said.

Stanley Bennett of Oakhurst Dairy said, “We are obviously very supportive of the Maine quality seal program and we stand by our slogan ‘Our Farmers Pledge No Artificial Growth Hormones,’ which we have used now for about three years.”

By signing the pledge, Oakhurst farmers are paid a higher premium for their milk by Oakhurst. “This provides a greater return for our farmers,” said Bennett.

“I think it is ironic that we have had the Maine quality seal program for many years but only now has it popped up on Monsanto’s radar screen, now that other major players are following suit,” Bennett said.

He was referring to an advertising campaign mounted this year by H.P. Hood that touts hormone-free milk. Calls to a spokesman at Hood’s Portland facility were not returned.

Bennett added: “We’re in the business of marketing high-quality Maine milk. Our consumers tell us every day that they don’t want to have to worry about artificial hormones in their milk.”

“Milk is nature’s most nearly perfect food,” said Bennett. “The last thing consumers need to think about it is unnecessary additions to it.”