Editing Milk (section)

==Bovine growth hormone supplementation==
Since November 1993, [[recombinant bovine somatotropin]] (rbST), also called rBGH, has been sold to dairy farmers with [[FDA]] approval. Cows produce bovine growth hormone naturally, but some producers administer an additional recombinant version of BGH which is produced through [[genetically engineered]] [[Escherichia coli|E. coli]] to increase milk production. Bovine growth hormone also stimulates liver production of [[insulin-like growth factor 1]] (IGF1).

=== Human health ===

The US [[Food and Drug Administration]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/SafetyHealth/ProductSafetyInformation/ucm130321.htm |title=Report on the Food and Drug Administration's Review of the Safety of Recombinant Bovine Somatotropin |publisher=US Food and Drug Administration |date=April 23, 2009 |access-date=August 25, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160823191323/https://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/SafetyHealth/ProductSafetyInformation/ucm130321.htm |archive-date=August 23, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> the [[National Institutes of Health]]<ref>{{cite conference |url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK15180/ |chapter=Bovine Somatotropin |conference=Technology Assessment Conference December 5–7, 1990 |title=NIH State of the Science Statements |publisher=[[National Institutes of Health]] |year=2002 |access-date=September 5, 2017 |archive-date=November 18, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151118082113/http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK15180/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and the [[World Health Organization]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://apps.who.int//iris/bitstream/10665/127845/1/9789241209885_eng.pdf |title=Evaluation of certain veterinary drug residues in food |year=2014 |work=[[World Health Organization]] |access-date=August 25, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160803163519/http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/127845/1/9789241209885_eng.pdf |archive-date=August 3, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> have reported that both of these compounds are safe for human consumption at the amounts present.

Milk from cows given rBST may be sold in the United States, and the FDA stated that no significant difference has been shown between milk derived from rBST-treated and that from non-rBST-treated cows.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100202232114/https://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/GuidanceDocuments/FoodLabelingNutrition/ucm059036.htm Voluntary Labeling of Milk and Milk Products From Cows That Have Not Been Treated With Recombinant Bovine Somatotropin]. Fda.gov. Retrieved November 24, 2011.</ref>

Milk that advertises that it comes from cows not treated with rBST, is required to state this finding on its label.

=== Animal welfare ===

Cows receiving rBGH supplements may more frequently contract an udder infection known as [[mastitis]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.preventcancer.com/consumers/general/milk.htm |first=Samuel S. |last=Epstein |title=Milk: America's Health Problem |publisher=Cancer Prevention Coalition |access-date=August 28, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100314123216/http://www.preventcancer.com/consumers/general/milk.htm |archive-date=March 14, 2010}}</ref> Problems with mastitis have led to Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan banning milk from rBST treated cows. Mastitis, among other diseases, may be responsible for the fact that levels of [[white blood cell]]s in milk vary naturally.<ref name="NDSU.EDU">{{cite web |url=http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/pubs/ansci/dairy/as1131w.htm |title=Mastitis Control Programs: Milk Quality Evaluation Tools for Dairy Farmers |publisher=Ag.ndsu.edu |date=January 1, 1997 |access-date=August 28, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100904063426/http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/pubs/ansci/dairy/as1131w.htm |archive-date=September 4, 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Greger |first=Michael |title=Paratuberculosis and Crohn's Disease: Got Milk? |publisher=[[Vegan Outreach]] |url=http://www.veganoutreach.org/health/greger-gotmilk.pdf |access-date=February 8, 2011 |date=January 2001 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718060100/http://www.veganoutreach.org/health/greger-gotmilk.pdf |archive-date=July 18, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

rBGH is also banned in the European Union, for reasons of [[animal welfare]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:31999D0879:EN:HTML |title=European Council Decision of December 17, 1999 |publisher=Eur-lex.europa.eu |access-date=August 28, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101028001455/http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:31999D0879:EN:HTML |archive-date=October 28, 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref>