The Meatrix | Get Involved: Action Center

Tell Starbucks To Buy Better Milk!

When you grab a latte from Starbucks, the milk in that drink likely has a controversial past. Starbucks uses milk from cows that are injected with recombinant bovine growth hormone, also known as rBGH or rBST. RBGH is a genetically-engineered, artificial hormone used to make cows produce more milk.

But with the many letters, calls and postcards sent in from you, since the start of 2007, Starbucks increased their use of artificial hormone free dairy from 27% to 51%! Starbucks is the #1 specialty coffee retailer in the world, with over 10,000 stores worldwide. As the industry leader, it has a huge impact on the marketplace, and markets itself as a socially responsible business. Starbucks notes it "champions...business practices that produce social, environmental and economic benefits for Starbucks communities globally." Please write to Starbucks and remind them that those practices should include treating cows humanely and providing customers milk produced without genetically-engineered hormones.

More on rBGH:
The hormone is known to cause harm to cows and may pose harm to humans. RBGH increases the rate of udder infections (and other ailments) in cows, which are treated with common antibiotics such as penicillin. Increased antibiotic use in food animals is a serious problem because it contributes to the growth of antibiotic resistant bacteria.

But that's not all. Injections of rBGH increase another hormone, called IGF-1, in the cow and the cow's milk. Too much IGF-1 in humans is linked with increase rates of colon, breast, and prostrate cancer. While it's not clear that rBGH given to cows increases IGF-1 in humans, why take the chance just so dairies can produce more milk? While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the use of rBGH amid controversy in 1993, the hormone is banned in Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and all 25 countries of the European Union.

Please edit this letter.

November 22, 2009

Subject:

Dear Starbucks,
 
I am concerned about the use of recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH) in your dairy products. While I applaud your decision to make 51% of your milk supply free of artificial growth hormones, I believe you can do better. As the largest coffee specialty retailer in the world, you are well positioned to require rBGH-free dairy for 100% of your products.

Specifically, I am concerned that the use of rBGH may lead to more antibiotic-resistant bacteria. When cows are injected with rBGH, it increases their likelihood of contracting painful udder infections, which are treated with common antibiotics. Overuse of antibiotics in agriculture is a serious concern of numerous health organizations, such as the American Public Health Association, because it creates antibiotic resistant bacteria.

Another major concern I have with Starbucks’ use of rBGH is that there are potential cancer risks from this genetically engineered hormone. rBGH increases another hormone in cows and cows’ milk, called IGF-1. In numerous studies, too much IGF-1 is associated with higher rates of breast, prostate, colon, and lung cancer in humans.

The reality is that recombinant bovine growth hormone offers no consumer benefit. Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and the entire European Union have banned rBGH.  So why should your customers have to take this unnecessary risk?

In the past several years, many dairies and companies alike have responded to consumer concerns and decided to go rBGH-free. As the industry leader, Starbucks has unique buying power. Your company can and should require all dairy suppliers to ban recombinant bovine growth hormone. Your customers deserve nothing less.

Sincerely,

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