Kansas governor vetoes bill

Milk labeling in Kansas is a victory for consumers

By Culinate staff

April 23, 2009

Last week, Gourmet magazine’s Barry Estabrook wrote that unless Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius vetoed it by today, a state bill would take effect that would require

that any milk product labeled as coming from cows not treated with the artificial growth hormone rBST also carry the following disclaimer in “exactly the same font, style, case, size and color”:

The FDA has determined that no significant difference has been shown between milk derived from rBST-supplemented and non-rBST-supplemented cows.

This, despite the fact that studies have shown there are significant differences.

Asked Estabrook, who said that some 29 citizen, farmer, and consumer groups opposed the bill: “When she takes up her post as head of the Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the FDA, whose interests will [Governor Sebelius] represent: the American people’s or multinational corporations’?”

The answer came late this afternoon, when Gov. Sebelius vetoed the controversial bill. The Center for Food Safety calls the decision a “victory for local dairy farmers and consumers.”