Former American Cancer Society Regional CEO Refuses To Drink Milk, Explains Why

photo © Sascha Burkard – fotolia.com

Rick North, former CEO of the Oregon division of the American Cancer Society is now project director of the Campaign for Safe Food at the Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility.

Her won’t drink “regular” cow’s milk because in the USA, milk producers treat their dairy cattle with recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH or rBST, as it is also known) to boost milk production.

rBGH is a genetically engineered artificial hormone originally developed by Monsanto and which is injected into dairy cows in order to make them produce more milk. Despite opposition from scientists, farmers and consumers, all 50 US states currently allows dairy cows to be injected with recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH), also known as recombinant bovine somatotropin (rBST). ^[2]

It’s very controversial: rBST has not been allowed on the market in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Israel or the European Union since 2000. Argentina also banned the use of rBGH. ^[2] The Codex Alimentarius Commission, a United Nations body that sets international food standards, has to date refused to approve rBGH as safe.

rBGH also increases udder infections and even pus in the milk. It also leads to higher levels of a hormone called insulin-like growth factor in milk. In people, high levels of IGF-1 may contribute to breast, prostate, and colon cancers. “When the government approved rBGH, it was thought that IGF-1 from milk would be broken down in the human digestive tract,” says North. “There’s not 100 percent proof that this is increasing cancer in humans,” admits North. “However, it’s banned in most industrialized countries.”

rGBH/rBST is cruel to cows: Two meta-analyses have been published reporting on rBST’s effects on bovine health.^[3][4] Findings were that there was a nearly 25% increase in the risk of the cows developing clinical mastitis, a 40% reduction in fertility and 55% increased risk of developing clinical signs of lameness.

So there it is. Studies have reported that it makes the cows ill, that it has potential human health risks, it is banned in numerous countries, was manufactured from GMO ingredients… and yet it is legal in all 50 USA states.

Note In the United States, negative public opinion about rGBH has led some manufacturers and retailers to market only milk that is rBST-free. ^[2] So it’s obtainable, but you need to know where. A list can be seen here.

Humans are the only creature that regularly drinks the milk of another animal after being weaned. Cow’s milk is considered by many to be an inappropriate food for humans, with many people being lactose intolerant and complaining of digestive issues from drinking milk.