| FDA News
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
P03-68
September 12, 2003
Media Inquiries: 301-436-2335
Consumer Inquiries: 888-INFO-FDA
FDA Warns Milk Producers
to Remove "Hormone Free" Claims
From the Labeling Of Dairy Products
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today
issued Warning Letters to four manufacturers of whole milk,
reduced fat milk and ice cream, informing them that their
products are misbranded because the labels contain the false
statements, "No Hormones" or "Hormone Free."
"FDA is committed to assuring that consumers are provided
with truthful information on product labels," said FDA
Commissioner Mark McClellan, MD., Ph.D.. "FDA will continue
to take strong action to protect American consumers from products
with labeling that is false or misleading."
During recent inspections, FDA investigators collected labels
of dairy products, including various milk and ice cream products.
FDA reviewed the labels and determined that the statements
"No Hormones" and "Hormone Free" are false
claims, and therefore, the products are misbranded under section
403(a) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the Act).
Under section 403(a) of the Act, a product is misbranded if
any information presented on the label or labeling is false
or misleading.
The Warning Letters explain that "No Hormones"
and "Hormone Free" are false claims because all
milk contains naturally occurring hormones, and milk can not
be processed in a manner that renders it free of hormones.
FDA also cautioned the firms that the agency could pursue
further action such as seizure and/or injunction, if they
fail to take prompt action to correct their labels.
FDA has stated that food manufacturers who do not use milk
from cows treated with recombinant bovine somatotropin (rbST)
may voluntarily inform consumers of this fact on their product
labels or labeling, provided that the statements are truthful
and not misleading.
Before the 1993 approval of rbST, FDA determined that the
recombinant, or genetically engineered form of bST is virtually
identical to a cow's natural somatotropin, a hormone produced
in the pituitary gland that stimulates the production of milk.
During that rbST approval process, FDA concluded that there
is no significant difference between milk from treated and
untreated cows. For that reason, FDA also concluded it does
not have the authority to require special labeling for milk
and dairy products from rbST-treated cows, and that producers
have no basis for claiming that milk from cows not treated
with rbST is safer than milk from rbST-treated cows.
Note from Lloyd
I think that the FDA should withdraw
from this arrogant attitude that there is no difference from
milk treated with rbST.
I do not want to drink any. Just
because they are to damn stupid or money driven to say that
there is no difference is not good enough for me!!!
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