CHICAGO, IL -/WORLD-WIRE/- The Cancer Prevention Coalition is pleased to
announce that the Governing Council of the American Public Health Association
has voted to oppose the continued sale and use of genetically engineered
hormonal rBGH milk, and also meat adulterated with sex hormones. This decision
is based on long-standing scientific and public policy information developed and
published by the Cancer Prevention Coalition over the last two decades, as
summarized below.
rBGH MILK
This hormone is injected in about 20% of U.S. dairy cows to increase milk
production. While the industry claims that the hormone is safe for cows, and
that the milk is safe for consumers, this is blatantly false.
- rBGH makes cows sick. Monsanto has been forced to admit to about 20 toxic
veterinary effects, including mastitis, on the label of Posilac (rBGH,) which
is injected in cows to increase milk production. Monsanto’s Posilac product
was acquired by Eli Lilly in 2008. - rBGH milk is contaminated by pus, due to mastitis, an udder infection
commonly induced by the hormone, and also by antibiotics used to treat the
mastitis. - rBGH milk is chemically and nutritionally different than natural milk.
- Milk from cows injected with rBGH is contaminated with the hormone, traces
of which are absorbed through the gut into the blood of people who consume
this milk or its products. - rBGH milk is supercharged with high levels of the natural growth factor
(IGF-1), which is readily absorbed through the gut. - Excess levels of IGF-1 have been incriminated in well-documented
scientific publications by the Chairman of the Cancer Prevention Coalition as
causes of breast, colon, and prostate cancers. Additionally, IGF-1 blocks
natural defense mechanisms against early submicroscopic cancers.
Cancer Prevention Coalition Chairman Samuel S. Epstein, M.D. says, “These
warnings, and related information were updated in my 2006 book, What’s in Your
Milk (TRAFFORD Publishing) supported by over 320 references, and endorsed by
Jeffrey Smith, Executive Director, Institute for Responsible Technology, and by
Dr. Quentin Young, Past President American Public Health Association.”
Warnings by the Cancer Prevention Coalition of these risks in 1990 have been
endorsed by the National Family Farm Coalition, representing 30 organizations,
and also by the Campaign Against rBST, representing 10 organizations.
A 2007 Cancer Prevention Coalition petition to the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA), “Seeking Withdrawal of the New Animal Drug application for
rBST,” was endorsed by the Organic Consumers Association, Farm Defenders, and
the Institute for Responsible Technology. However, the FDA failed to responded
to or act on this petition. This petition was endorsed by the Organic Consumers
Association, the Family Farm Defenders, and the Institute for Responsible
Technology.
Furthermore, the FDA has remained indifferent to these risks, in spite of
longstanding Congressional concerns. Illustrative is the 1986 Congressional
report, “Human Food Safety and Regulation of Animal Drugs,” by the House
Committee on Government Operations. This report concluded that the “FDA has
consistently disregarded its responsibility… has repeatedly put what it
perceives are interests of veterinarians and the livestock industry ahead of its
legal obligations to protect consumers – jeopardizing the health and safety of
consumers of meat and milk.”
Of particular concern are risks to infants and children in view of their high
susceptibility to cancer-causing ingredients in consumer products.
These risks are readily avoidable by consuming organic milk. According to The
Hartman Group, a prominent Seattle consulting firm, organic milk is now among
the first organic product that consumers buy. Organic milk is becoming
increasingly available, with an annual growth rate of about 20%, while overall
milk consumption is dropping by 10%.
Nevertheless, only a few schools make organic milk available, nor do most state
governments, under low-income food programs, particularly by the Special
Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children.”
Wal-Mart is now the biggest seller of certified organic milk, followed by
Horizon Organic, owned by Dean Foods, the nation’s largest dairy producer, and
by Groupe Danone, the leading French dairy company. While growth in this market
is still held back by the higher price of organic milk, this problem is likely
to be resolved by Wal-Mart’s competitive pricing.
In sharp contrast to the United States, the European Union nations, as well as
Norway, Switzerland, New Zealand, Japan, and Canada, all have banned the use and
imports of hormonal milk and dairy products.
This information was recently sent by the Cancer Prevention Coalition to state
governors, besides senior officials in all 50 state health departments as well
as to senior federal officials in all relevant agencies, and also staff members
of relevant Congressional committees.
It is anticipated that Dr. Margaret Hamburg, the highly respected new
Commissioner of the FDA, will take prompt action to protect the unsuspecting
public from the dangers of rBST milk.
HORMONAL BEEF
Beef produced in the United States is heavily contaminated with natural or
synthetic sex hormones, which are associated with an increased risk of
reproductive and childhood cancers.
Increased levels of sex hormones are linked to the escalating incidence of
reproductive cancers in the United States since 1975 – 60% for prostate, 59% for
testis, and 10% for breast, warns the Cancer Prevention Coalition.
The hormones in past and current use include the natural estrogen, progesterone
and testosterone, and the synthetic zeranol, trenbolone, and melengesterol.
When beef cattle enter feedlots, pellets of these hormones are implanted under
the ear skin, a process that is repeated at the midpoint of their 100-day
pre-slaughter fattening period. These hormones increase carcass weight, adding
over $80 in extra profit per animal.
The Cancer Prevention Coalition warned that, “Not surprisingly, but contrary to
longstanding claims by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA), residues of these hormones in meat are up to
20-fold higher than normal. Still higher residues result from the not uncommon
illegal practice of implantation directly into muscle. Furthermore, contrary to
misleading assurances, meat is still not monitored for hormone residues.”
Nevertheless, the FDA and USDA still maintain that hormone residues in meat are
within “normal levels,” while waiving any requirements for residue testing.
Following a single ear implant in steers of Synovex-S, a combination of estrogen
and progesterone, residues of these hormones in meat were found to be up to
20-fold higher than normal.
The amount of estradiol in two hamburgers eaten in one day by an 8-year-old boy
could increase his total hormone levels by as much as 10%, particularly as young
children have very low natural hormone levels. Not surprisingly, the coalition
warns, the incidence of childhood cancer has increased by 38% since 1975.
These concerns are not new. As evidenced in a series of General Accountability
Office investigations and Congressional hearings, FDA residue-tolerance programs
and USDA inspections are in near total disarray, aggravated by brazen denials
and cover-ups.
A January 1986 report, “Human Food Safety and the Regulation of Animal Drugs,”
unanimously approved by the House Committee on Government Operations, concluded
that “the FDA has consistently disregarded its responsibility – has repeatedly
put what is perceives are interests of veterinarians and the livestock industry
ahead of its legal obligation to protect consumers, thus jeopardizing the health
and safety of consumers of meat, milk and poultry.”
On January 1, 1989, the European Community placed a ban on meat imports from
animals treated with growth inducing hormones. This had a direct impact on the
U.S. beef industry, which used the hormones in more than half of the cattle sent
to market each year.
Twenty-years later, on May 6, 2009, the European Union and the United States
settled their long- running dispute over hormone-treated beef. Under terms of
the four-year deal the EU will be permitted to maintain its ban on hormone-fed
beef. In return, the EU has agreed to increase the amount of hormone-free beef
that can be imported from the U.S. without duty.
It is well recognized that American women have a greater risk of breast cancer
than women in countries that do not permit the sale of hormonal beef.
THE WHITE HOUSE
On November 4, 2009, the Cancer Prevention Coalition submitted a 10/21/09 press
release on “Hormones in U.S. Beef Linked to Increased Cancer Risks,” and a
10/28/09 release on “Dr. Epstein’s 20 Year Fight Against Biotech Cancer Causing
Milk” to Katie McCormick, Press Secretary to First Lady of the United States
Michelle Obama; to Jocelyn Frey, Deputy Assistant to the President and Director
of Policy; and to Sam Kass, White House Food Initiative Coordinator and the
Obama family’s personal chef at the White House. Replies are pending.
Source: Cancer Prevention
Coalition