From foodconsumer.org
Wal-Mart starts now selling milk from cows untreated with growth hormone
By Ben Wasserman
Mar 23, 2008 - 5:20:10 PM
SUNDAY March 23, 2008 (Foodconsumer.org) -- Wal-Mart Stores said on Thursday that it is now selling its private-label milk under brand name Great Value which is being sourced only from cows that have not been treated with controversial growth hormones, Reuters reported.
Conventional milk comes from cows that receive artificial growth hormone that forces cows to increase production of milk by more than 15 %. Use of growth hormones is known to have a negative impact on cows’ wellbeing.
Although the Food and Drug Administration said the conventional milk contains no higher growth hormone than milk from untreated cows, critics say cows treated with growth hormone are less healthy and more vulnerable for a range of illness and more likely to be treated with drugs such as antibiotics.
European countries and Canada ban importation of U.S. milk, according to preventcancer.com.
Wal-Mart said its Sam's Club chain is also offering milk selections from suppliers who claimed not to use growth hormone such as recombinant bovine somatotropin (rBST) in dairy cows, Reuters reported.
The retailer said they made the change in response to the market demand.