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Milk labeling change draws criticism By James CarlsonThe Capital-Journal December 2, 2008 Proposed changes to how dairy farmers label their milk are unnecessary and unfair, a majority of people told state officials Tuesday morning. The Kansas Department of Agriculture received comments on a proposed regulation stiffening requirements for labeling milk produced without articificial hormones. The change would allow farmers to continue to say on the bottles that their cows were not injected with the hormone, but they would also be required to print in the same size font that the federal government sees no difference in the milk. The idea was first proposed in the Legislature where Monsanto, manufacturer of the bovine growth hormone rBGH, helped push for the change. The measure failed to gain traction in the Statehouse. But it reemerged in the DOA as a regulation, and on Tuesday 17 people told officials they opposed the change. Six people appeared in support. Those in favor of the change said any label saying the milk is from non-hormone-injected animals implies the milk is healthier. The regulation would clear that up, said Lynda Foster, a dairy farmer near Fort Scott, Kan., who uses the hormone and supported the change. "We're all concerned with consumers' right to know," she said. But opponents also said consumer choice was a big factor. Terese LaBelle, said the proposed rule unfairly impinges on milk producers' free-speech rights. She said if the rule passes, farmers who use injectible hormones should also have to say on the bottle that they do so. "As long as there aren't labes on both sides, we don't have fair labeling," she said. Secretary of Agriculture Adrian Polansky will consider the oral comments as well as those written statements already submitted before making his decision. |
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