MICHAEL BRYANT / Inquirer Staff Photographer
In the milking parlor at Central Manor Dairy near Lancaster, Tim Sauder keeps the cows moving. Years ago, the FDA approved hormone injections to increase milk production. Now, Pennsylvania agriculture officials say it's time to end labeling that suggests milk produced without the injections is safer.
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Hormone labeling of Pa. milk to end
It can unfairly imply that milk from injected cows isn't safe, officials say.
A review by Health Canada - that country's equivalent of the FDA - estimated an 11 to 19 percent increase in mastitis, which is treated with antibiotics. Monsanto's Lormore said the increase was small when compared to other mastitis risks such as poor sanitation.
Pending standards for synthetic hormones in milk, scientific reports and additional background: http://go.philly.com/health
Contact staff writer Tom Avril at 215-854-2430 or tavril@phillynews.com.
"Just like if you pick up some Tylenol, there's a label with everything known to man that can possibly ever go wrong with Tylenol," Lormore said. "The risk of those side effects is deemed to be very low and manageable."
As of now, the new Pennsylvania standards will take effect in February. And Harnish, the Lancaster County farmer, is happy with the change.
"There's something to be said for truth in labeling," Harnish said. "But I think we have to be real careful that the labeling does not imply something that's not true."
Pending standards for synthetic hormones in milk, scientific reports and additional background: http://go.philly.com/health
Contact staff writer Tom Avril at 215-854-2430 or tavril@phillynews.com.
