OREGON CONSUMERS’ rBGH (rBST) -FREE DAIRY PRODUCTS GUIDE (DRAFT)

If you consume dairy products, Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility recommends buying products from cows NOT injected with recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH or rBST). It increases disease rates in cows and a significant body of scientific data has linked it to possible increases in cancer and antibiotic resistance in humans. Its use has been banned in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and all 25 nations of the European Union.

To determine if a dairy product is rBGH-free, the best thing to do is LOOK AT THE LABEL. Dairies that are rBGH-free typically WANT to inform consumers and will usually have a statement saying they don’t use it. Organic brands by definition are rBGH-free. Many major chains contract with organic producers and package organic store brand milks, which are not listed below.

Brands in the tables below have policies against the use of rBGH. Brands not in the tables below are likely to allow their dairy products to be produced from cows injected with rBGH. This includes Albertson’s, Alpenrose, Darigold, Eberhard’s, Fred Meyer, Lucerne, Tillamook and Wilcox. Dairies using rBGH milk are not required by the FDA to disclose it. They rarely, if ever, have information on their labels informing consumers of their use of rBGH milk.

Note: Independent food co-ops around the state, not listed below for space reasons, often have a wide variety of rBGH-free dairy products.

MILK

BRAND	ORGANIC?	STORE(S) AVAILABLE (Note: Some brands are not available at all store locations)
Horizon	Yes	Albertson’s, Fred Meyer, QFC, Safeway, Wild Oats
Lochmead	No	Dari-Mart
Mallories	No	BP Mini-marts, Food For Less, Roth’s IGA, Shopping Cart, Thriftway
Market of Choice	No	Market of Choice
Noris	Yes	New Seasons
Organic Valley	Yes	Albertson’s, Fred Meyer, Haggen’s, New Seasons, QFC, Thriftway, Whole Foods, Wild Oats, Zupan’s
Sunshine	No	New Seasons, 7-11, Wild Oats
Trader Joe’s	No	Trader Joe’s
Umpqua	No	Market of Choice

BUTTER

Beecher’s	No	Zupan’s
Horizon	Yes	Fred Meyer, Haggen’s, New Seasons, Safeway, Thriftway, Wild Oats
Organic Valley	Yes	Albertson’s, Fred Meyer, Haggen’s, New Seasons, Wild Oats, Zupan’s
Trader Joe’s	Both	Trader Joe’s
Whole Foods 365	No	Whole Foods
Woodstock	Yes	New Seasons

CHEESE

(Note: Stores change brands frequently. Also, there is a wide variety of rBGH-free cheeses, too many to list here. Below is a representative sample, concentrating on major brands and those produced in Oregon. Also, imported cheeses from Canada, England, France, Italy and any other European Union nation are rBGH-free, although not usually labeled.

BRAND	ORGANIC?	STORES AVAILABLE
Bravo Farms	No	New Seasons, Wild Oats
Horizon	Yes	QFC, Safeway, Thriftway, Whole Foods, Wild Oats
Organic Valley	Yes	Albertson’s, Fred Meyer, Haggen’s, Market of Choice, New Seasons, Ray’s Food Place, Roth’s, QFC, Thriftway, Whole Foods, Wild Oats, Zupan’s
Rogue Creamery	No	Lamb’s Markets, Market of Choice, New Seasons, Whole Foods
Trader Joe’s (NOT ALL)	No	Trader Joe’s
Whole Foods 365	No	Whole Foods
Willamette Valley	No	New Seasons

ICE CREAM

Ben & Jerry’s	Both	Albertson’s, Fred Meyer, Haggen’s, New Seasons, QFC, Safeway, Thriftway, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, Wild Oats, Zupan’s
Double Rainbow	No	Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods
Julie’s Organic	Yes	Wild Oats
Stonyfield Farm	No	Wild Oats
Straus	Yes	Market of Choice
Umpqua	No	Albertson’s, Haggen’s, Market of Choice, Thriftway, Zupan’s
Wallaby	Yes	Thriftway
Whole Foods 365	No	Whole Foods

YOGURT

Brown Cow	No	Albertson’s, Market of Choice, New Seasons, Safeway, Thriftway, Whole Foods, Wild Oats, Zupan’s
Cascade Fresh	No	Food For Less, Fred Meyer, Haggen’s, Market of Choice, New Seasons, QFC, Ray’s Food Place, Roth’s IGA, Thriftway, Wal-Mart, Wild Oats, Zupan’s
Horizon	Yes	Safeway, Wild Oats, Zupan’s
Nancy’s	Both	Albertson’s, Fred Meyer, Haggen’s, Price Chopper, Safeway, Thriftway, Wild Oats, Zupan’s
Stonyfield Farm	Both	Albertson’s, Fred Meyer, Haggen’s, Safeway, Thriftway, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, Wild Oats
Wallaby	Yes	New Seasons, Whole Foods, Wild Oats