Kansas bill HR 2121 disallows rbGH labeling

Last Friday, the Kansas legislature passed a law that disallows rbGH labeling on milk and milk products. By removing the requirement to label milk, consumers in Kansas will no longer be able to determine whether the product they are purchasing does or does not contain bovine growth hormone.

Civil Eats writes in their post on the bill, HR 2121: The required disclaimer would read: “the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has determined there are no significant differences between milk from cows that receive injections of the artificial hormone and milk from those that do not.” That statement is based on an 18-year-old FDA review; however, FDA’s own publications, as well as subsequent scientific studies have shown that there are significant differences, some of which may affect human health. The Kansas bill also goes against long-established Federal policy as outlined by the FDA in a July 27, 1994 letter to New York Department of Agriculture and Markets: “The bottom line is that a contextual statement is not required…and in no instance is the specific statement ‘No significant difference has been shown…’ required by FDA.”

Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius is President Obama's nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services. She has the power to veto this bill before moving on to Washington, D.C.. Please take some time to read up on the bill at Food and Water Watch and Civil Eats, and please sign the petition urging Governor Sebelius to veto the bill here.