New Milk Labeling Standards in PA

On Jan. 17, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture announced new milk labeling standards for all fluid milk sold in the state. As a result of the new standards, dairy processors intending to use labels stating the milk was produced with no recombinant bovine somatatropin (rBST), an artificial growth hormone, can include the following label claim: From cows not treated with rBST. No significant difference has been shown between milk derived from rBST-treated and non-rBST-treated cows, or a substantial equivalent. A ban on labeling milk as hormone-free was set to go into effect on Feb. 1, but now dairy processors have until March 1 to submit new labels that include the disclaimer.

Only milk produced entirely without the use of artificial hormones can make the claim, and dairy processors intending to use such claims will be required to certify the milk they are marketing was not produced with rBST.

Although FDA approved rBST as safe for human consumption, some dairy processors not using rBST had taken to labeling and marketing their milk as being produced without the use of synthetic hormones, and often charged higher prices for their product. This was seen by many in the industry as manipulative marketing, as there is no way to differentiate between milk from rBST-treated herds and untreated herds.

Pennsylvania Department of Agricultures charge is to ensure that food on the shelves is safe, and in the case of milk, labeled truthfully, said Dennis Wolff, Pennsylvania secretary of agriculture. These new standards give consumers the information they want about how their milk was produced. If consumers prefer certain farming practices, such as not using rBST, there needs to be accountability on the part of the milk processor to show that the consumer is getting what they are paying for.