Alex Avery cgfi.org
The following are examples from specific news organization where consumers were grossly misinformed that the artificial hormone rbST alters milk in some way. (Misinformation is highlighted in bold text.) We attempted to contact each reporter and/or news organization to correct their misreporting, all to no avail.
Thus, we are including specific contact information above each misleading or erroneous story example so that you, the well educated consumer and dairy producer, can attempt to contact them and set the record straight. We hope you have better luck than we had. [NOTE: Be sure to include the URL (web address) of the misleading story so editors will know which story is being questioned.]
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16690455/
REUTERS
Demand rising for milk made without additive
Industry sees tide turning in long battle over artificial growth hormone
January 18, 2006
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Five years ago, Missouri dairy farmer Leroy Shatto was struggling to stay in business. Today, his herd has more than doubled amid a surge in demand for his product. The difference: a marketing campaign touting Shatto milk as free of artificial hormones. . . . The debate has taken a marked turn over the past several months as a growing number of dairy producers and food industry players have begun demanding rbST-free milk, citing heightened consumer demand and new niche marketing opportunities.
“We’re not making any moral judgments. It is about giving consumers what they want, and there are some consumers who simply do not want artificial growth hormones in their milk,” said Marguerite Copel, spokeswoman for Dean Foods Co., the nation’s largest milk processor and distributor.
REUTERS’ CONTACT SITE: http://aboutreuters.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/aboutreuters.cfg/php/enduser/site_fdbck.php
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16692226/
What’s Missing at Starbucks?
Starbucks switches to milk without artificial growth hormone; consumers won’t miss it.
By Alyce Lomax
Updated: 9:39 a.m. ET Jan 18, 2007
Starbucks is on a roll when it comes to altering some of its ingredients. The coffee giant recently began removing trans fats from its wares. Now, it says it’s bowing to consumer demand by switching to milk that doesn’t contain artificial growth hormones. It seems that sometimes, an item’s absence can be a competitive advantage.
MSNBC CONTACT: letters@msnbc.com
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2007-01-17-starbucks-hormone_x.htm
Some Starbucks dropping milk products made with growth hormone
Posted 1/17/2007 11:13 AM ET
SEATTLE (AP) – Starbucks Coffee (SBUX) is ending its use of milk products that contain an artificial growth hormone, starting in much of the West and New England.
USA TODAY CONTACT: http://feedbackforms.usatoday.com/marketing/feedback/feedback-online.aspx?type=18
ASSOCIATED PRESS CONTACT: info@ap.org
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/299984_starbucksmilk17.html
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Starbucks switches to milk without growth hormones
By CRAIG HARRIS
With no fanfare, Starbucks Coffee Co. this month began using milk products without a controversial artificial growth hormone in its home state.
P-I reporter Craig Harris can be reached at 206-448-8138 or craigharris@seattlepi.com
(To be fair, Craig is a business reporter and he did call the local dairy farmers association – who failed to correctly inform Mr. Harris about the non-difference between milk from cows supplemented with rbST and those not receiving the supplement)
Starbucks to stop using milk with artificial growth hormones in it
CNN Headline News, January 16, 2007
Reporter Jennifer Westhoven: “Starbucks is going to stop using milk with artificial growth hormones in it. Now, many dairies give this controversial “bovine growth hormone” to their cows - it’s called rbGH - and it helps the cows produce more milk. Starbucks, though, will be phasing it out of most of its stores in the United States. If you’re thinking, well, you know, why don’t they change it in other countries? It’s because they don’t allow it in most other countries - it was never there in the first place.” (shocked laughter from news anchor/host)
CONTACT: Jennifer.Westhoven@turner.com