General Mills’ Yoplait® to Use Milk from rBST-Free Cows

General Mills has announced that as of August 2009, its Yoplait® products will no longer contain milk produced by cows treated with synthetic growth hormone (rBST or rBGH). Although the artificial hormone increases a cow’s milk production by one gallon per day, its use has drawn criticism from environmental and consumer advocates who fear the hormone could adversely affect human health. Its use is supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, but banned in Canada, Australia, Japan, and other nations in part because of its purported
impact on bovine health. “While the safety of milk from cows treated with rBST is not at issue, our consumers were expressing a preference for milk from cows not treated with rBST, and we responded,” a General Mills spokesperson was quoted as saying. See The Star Tribune, February 9, 2009; Food & Water Watch Blog, February 10, 2009.