Dairy Labeling - Missouri House Bill HB 2283 has hearing on 4-1-2008

House Bill 2283 has been scheduled for a hearing with the Special Committee on Agri-Business for April 1, 2008 at 8:00am in Hearing Room #4 of the State Capitol Building. This bill would be VERY detrimental to small dairy producers in the state who advertise their milk as hormone free, rBgh free or by other composition standards. It would prevent consumers from knowing what is used to produce their milk. This bill must be stopped! Opponents to this bill should be at the hearing, if they at all can. Those who would like to testify in person or through written submission should contact the Committee Chair. All opponents to this bill should contact the Committee Members and express their views on this very destructive bill. At this late date, phone calls are best, but emails are still very effective.

The Committee Contact information is below, with the exact wording of the changes the bill would make to the current dairy labeling laws in Missouri.

196.075. 1. A food shall be deemed to be misbranded:...
(12) For all dairy products except those produced through organic farming as defined by rules promulgated under section 261.110, RSMo:

1. A compositional claim that cannot be confirmed through laboratory analysis; or
2. A compositional or production-related claim that is supported solely by sworn statements, affidavits, or testimonials; or
3. If the label contains a statement which is false or misleading; or
4. If the label contains the following production statement: "this milk is from cows not supplemented with rbST", or a substantially equivalent claim; or
5. If the label makes any claims regarding the composition of milk, as opposed to the manner in which milk is produced, such as "No Hormone", "Hormone Free", "rbST Free", "rbGH Free", and "bST Free". The department of agriculture shall not permit such statements on any dairy product labels; or
6. A statement may be considered false and misleading if it indicates the absence of a compound not permitted by the United States Food and Drug Administration to be present in any dairy product.