FAIR WARNING, Monsanto’s treacherous case against Oakhurst(Monsanto sues small Maine dairy)

thePorlandPhoenix ^ | Tuesday, September 23, 2003 | Jess Kilby

[fight_truth_decay]

Background: Under the law, milk producers have a right not to disclose whether they use growth hormones and Posilac is used in about one third of the U.S.'s nine million dairy cows.

Multi-billion dollar agribusiness Monsanto markets "the leading recombinant bovine growth hormone (rbGH)" claiming it will boost a cow's milk production by as much as fifteen percent and is safe as approved by the FDA.

Monsanto admits Oakhurst's ($85 million in sales) label:"Our farmers' pledge: no artificial growth hormones." is technically true but misleading - it 'implies' something is wrong with milk not hormone-free.

The Monsanto suit should concern anyone who believes in free speech, truth in labeling for consumer choice, or the free market.

McDonald's recently announced that it will begin to use beef from cattle raised without antibiotics. McDonald's will certainly want to advertise the fact.

Ben & Jerry's Homemade ice cream carries a label that says its farmers pledge not to use artificial growth hormones.

Should Oakhurst have the right to: Use a Milk Label Proclaiming Its Product To Be Growth-Hormone-Free ?

[Free Vulcan]

Monsanto's suit meets no standards of proof of injury, slander, or anything else whatsoever. They are in fact trying to do with this suit exactly what they are claiming the defendents are doing. Basically in their mind Oakhurst dairy is the bad guy because they won't let Monsanto run them over.

[Joe Bfstplk]

The producer benefits from using (risking) the growth hormone by a 15% increase in production. Makes sense to him.

I, as a consumer, benefit 0% for taking a risk. Makes no sense.

[camle]

sounds like a freedom of speech issue to me...

[Happy Hamster]

This kind of thing started back in the 30's with Franklin Damnanation Rooseveldt. The FDA steered the country away from homeopathic remedies and toward the pharmasutical companies. Monsanto is currently trying to bankrupt anyone who stands in their way of monopolizing the food supply.

[Happy Hamster]

This kind of thing started back in the 30's with Franklin Damnanation Rooseveldt. The FDA steered the country away from homeopathic remedies and toward the pharmasutical companies. Monsanto is currently trying to bankrupt anyone who stands in their way of monopolizing the food supply.

[Happy Hamster]

This kind of thing started back in the 30's with Franklin Damnanation Rooseveldt. The FDA steered the country away from homeopathic remedies and toward the pharmasutical companies. Monsanto is currently trying to bankrupt anyone who stands in their way of monopolizing the food supply.

[2timothy3.16]

I, as a consumer, benefit 0% for taking a risk. Makes no sense.

Ditto!

[AFPS]

http://www.workingforchange.com/activism/action.cfm?itemid=15454&afccode=NLT001


Kind of questionable site but they have a form letter to send to Monsanto.

[myrabach]

Monsanto targets smaller corporations and farmers for their lawsuits. Typically their opposition cannot afford the legal representation equal to that of Monsanto. Hence, Monsanto wins... and before we know it, said company or farmer is out of business and Monsanto goes on its merry way.

[EdReform]

Bump for General Interest

[petitfour]

We have a local dairy that sells hormone free milk and eggs. There is a difference in taste between grocery store milk and the local dairy milk. (at least to my tastebuds)

[EdReform]

"Should Oakhurst have the right to: Use a Milk Label Proclaiming Its Product To Be Growth-Hormone-Free ?"

Yes. Oakhurst has the right to label it's product as long as it's done truthfully. Obviously, there is a market for growth-hormone-free milk. I don't beleive that Oakhurst should be forced to add any extra labeling to their product.

[fight_truth_decay]

Monsanto could be in a position to name the state of Maine as a co-defendant. The Quality Trademark Seal, is carried on on dairy products free of artificial growth hormones.

Oakhurst Dairy is defending the right of consumers to know what is in the milk. Other dairies, are closely be watching as farmers who produce BGH milk could lose the ability to use what one might call the 'truth in labeling' if Monsanto's suit is successful. Illinois, Nevada and Oklahoma have already banned use of the labels. Monsanto sits in the position of not feeling the outrage from the consumer as it is protected by FDA approval and deals directly with the farmer, not the consumer.

I am fortunate to have the choice that many in cities do not. The State of Maine closely inspects under tough guidelines all dairy products carrying the 'Organic' label. I use whole milk, fresh churned butter and organic eggs from a local farm. I don't step into the big chain grocery stores much anymore. And definitely a difference in taste. I want the freedom to make an educated decision on what I put into my body, Monsanto wants to take that right away from me.

[fight_truth_decay]

A few years back, Monsanto killed a Fox New article about the hazards of BGH. The reporters fired over the incident sued, and won. Why the reporters were fired I don't know.

[AFPS]

I just finished a book Seeds Of Deception by Jeffrey Smith. I highly recommend it. It tells about that FOX case you just mentioned. A reporter named Mrs. Akre ( a former CNN reporter) and her husband Steve Wilson (3 time Emmy Award winner) did some digging and uncovered huge coverups surrounding the safety of rbGH and MOnsanto and even the FDA. When the reporters went to air the story on FOX 13, a Florida TV station, (the station invested thousands of dollars in advertising to promote the series) Monsanto's lawyers faxed a letter to the head of Fox in New York and threatened to pull its advertsing. Monsanto is a major advertiser with FOX nationwide. The news story was then pulled for "further review". The reporters refused to back down and were "let go" as was the station manager and news manager. They were fired for insubordination. To read more or updates www.foxbghsuit.com
Monsanto is bullying everone into drinking their experimental hormome milk and health consequences are overlooked. For the FDA to even approve this was a joke. Read that book, very informative!

[MeekOneGOP]

Please let me know if you want ON or OFF my General Interest ping list!. . .don't be shy.

[MeekOneGOP]

bttt back atcha. Thanks ! ...

[myrabach]

Most interesting... Its incredible how powerful Monsanto has become, and scary too.

[petitfour]

Just look at what Monsanto has done for Anniston, AL, for many, many years. Talk about corruption. Buying politicians isn't all that difficult when you have lots of $$$$$$ to go around the whole political spectrum.