Dr. Lester Crawford, Commissioner
FDA
5600 Fishers Lane
Rockville, MD 20857

RE: FDA must require rGBH labeling

Dear Dr. Crawford,

As a very concerned U.S. citizen, consumer, and taxpayer, I strongly urge the FDA to require dairy products produced with recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH or rBST) to be labeled, so that I can choose whether or not my family and I will consume them.

Numerous other nations, including Canada, Japan, and the entire European Union, have banned rBGH. I find it extremely disturbing that the United States not only hasn’t banned it, but does not yet even require labeling!

Scientists and consumers worldwide have many concerns about the health impacts of this hormone. It increases the level of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in cows. In high amounts, IGF-1 has been linked to cancer.

Recombinant bovine growth hormone also increases mastitis in cows, requiring treatment with antibiotics, which contributes to the serious problem of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Please do your job to protect the health of Americans by immediately requiring clear labeling of all dairy products containing recombinant bovine growth hormone.