Does administering BST increase the hormone level of milk?
“The composition of milk should be the same,” said Maurice Eastridge, an Ohio State University dairy specialist. According to the FDA, there is no difference in BST levels in milk from cows administered BST and those that were not. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which oversees food labeling, notes that claims of “no added hormones” or “no rBST” refer to the method in which the milk was produced, not its quality or safety. Who uses BST? According to Monsanto, the company that makes rBST, an estimated one-third of U.S. dairy producers administer BST to their cows. How do cows receive BST? The FDA notes that BST is a protein and would simply be digested if eaten. Therefore it must be administered through the cow’s bloodstream. A dose of BST is 500 mg every two weeks in conjunction with the cow’s lactation cycle. 500 mg is the same size as a single extra strength aspirin. It can also be administered as a slow release ear implant. Why are cows given antibiotics? Cows are sometim
