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Publix brand milk now free of synthetic hormone<br><br>
By ELIZABETH LEE<br>
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution<br>
Published on: 05/02/07<br><br>
Publix Super Markets is switching all of its store- brand milk to eliminate a controversial genetically engineered hormone.<br><br>
The grocery chain on Tuesday introduced a full line of milk produced without rbST, including chocolate milk. Publix becomes the largest supermarket chain in metro Atlanta to offer that type of milk in all its private label varieties.<br><br>
RELATED LINK:<br><br>
• More health headlines<br><br>
Dairy farmers use rbST, or recombinant bovine somatotropin, to boost milk production. The Food and Drug Administration in 1993 approved the product, a synthetic version of a naturally occurring hormone. There is no significant difference between milk from cows treated with the hormone and untreated cows, the federal agency said.<br><br>
Still, consumers were wary. That skepticism has continued for more than a decade, helping boost sales of organic milk, which does not contain the hormone.<br><br>
Those concerns are causing other retailers to make changes, too. Chipotle started spooning up rbST-free sour cream on its burritos and tacos this year, and Starbucks pledged to use more milk without synthetic hormones. Whole Foods Market has sold rbST-free milk for years under its 365 store brand.<br><br>
Publix is making the switch in response to consumer concern about the potential for harmful effects, says spokeswoman Brenda Reid. All the chain's 902 stores will carry the milk.<br><br>
Earlier this year, a coalition that includes the Organic Consumers Association petitioned the FDA to take the synthetic hormone off the market, contending it increased the risk of certain kinds of cancer in those who drank milk from rbST-treated cows.<br><br>
Monsanto, which produces the hormone under the trade name Posilac, says it is safe.<br><br>
Milk produced without the synthetic hormone generally costs 5 cents to 20 cents more per gallon, according to a spokeswoman for Dean Foods, the nation's top dairy producer. The change should not affect the cost of Publix milk, Reid says.<br><br>
Publix is charging $3.39 a gallon for the milk today; it goes on sale for $2.50 a gallon starting Thursday. Previously, Publix sold rbST-free milk under its Greenwise label for $2.49 a half-gallon. The chain is dropping that milk but keeping its Greenwise Organic milk. Whole Foods charges about $2.99 a gallon for its rbST-free milk.<br><br>
That type of milk costs more because cows produce less without the hormone and because dairies must take care not to mix it with conventional milk, says Marguerite Copel, vice president of corporate communications for Dean Foods. The Dallas-based company does not supply the private-label milk to Publix but does offer milk without synthetic hormones under some of its brands.<br><br><br><a href="http://www.ajc.com/health/content/health/stories/2007/05/01/0502alvmilk.html" target="_blank">http://www.ajc.com/health/content/he...02alvmilk.html</a>
By ELIZABETH LEE<br>
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution<br>
Published on: 05/02/07<br><br>
Publix Super Markets is switching all of its store- brand milk to eliminate a controversial genetically engineered hormone.<br><br>
The grocery chain on Tuesday introduced a full line of milk produced without rbST, including chocolate milk. Publix becomes the largest supermarket chain in metro Atlanta to offer that type of milk in all its private label varieties.<br><br>
RELATED LINK:<br><br>
• More health headlines<br><br>
Dairy farmers use rbST, or recombinant bovine somatotropin, to boost milk production. The Food and Drug Administration in 1993 approved the product, a synthetic version of a naturally occurring hormone. There is no significant difference between milk from cows treated with the hormone and untreated cows, the federal agency said.<br><br>
Still, consumers were wary. That skepticism has continued for more than a decade, helping boost sales of organic milk, which does not contain the hormone.<br><br>
Those concerns are causing other retailers to make changes, too. Chipotle started spooning up rbST-free sour cream on its burritos and tacos this year, and Starbucks pledged to use more milk without synthetic hormones. Whole Foods Market has sold rbST-free milk for years under its 365 store brand.<br><br>
Publix is making the switch in response to consumer concern about the potential for harmful effects, says spokeswoman Brenda Reid. All the chain's 902 stores will carry the milk.<br><br>
Earlier this year, a coalition that includes the Organic Consumers Association petitioned the FDA to take the synthetic hormone off the market, contending it increased the risk of certain kinds of cancer in those who drank milk from rbST-treated cows.<br><br>
Monsanto, which produces the hormone under the trade name Posilac, says it is safe.<br><br>
Milk produced without the synthetic hormone generally costs 5 cents to 20 cents more per gallon, according to a spokeswoman for Dean Foods, the nation's top dairy producer. The change should not affect the cost of Publix milk, Reid says.<br><br>
Publix is charging $3.39 a gallon for the milk today; it goes on sale for $2.50 a gallon starting Thursday. Previously, Publix sold rbST-free milk under its Greenwise label for $2.49 a half-gallon. The chain is dropping that milk but keeping its Greenwise Organic milk. Whole Foods charges about $2.99 a gallon for its rbST-free milk.<br><br>
That type of milk costs more because cows produce less without the hormone and because dairies must take care not to mix it with conventional milk, says Marguerite Copel, vice president of corporate communications for Dean Foods. The Dallas-based company does not supply the private-label milk to Publix but does offer milk without synthetic hormones under some of its brands.<br><br><br><a href="http://www.ajc.com/health/content/health/stories/2007/05/01/0502alvmilk.html" target="_blank">http://www.ajc.com/health/content/he...02alvmilk.html</a>
