A Fake Group Fights for Monsanto's Right to Deceive You

The American Farmers for the Advancement and Conservation of Technology, or Afact, calls itself a "grass-roots organization" that came together to defend their right to use the artificial growth hormone recombinant bovine somatotropin, also known as rBST or rBGH, in their milk production.

What they do not tell you is that Afact is not only an organization of dairy farmers. The group actually has close ties to Monsanto, the makers of rBGH, which is marketed under the brand name Posilac.

Monsanto and a Colorado consultant that lists Monsanto as a client helped to organize Afact. The group has also worked with marketing firm Osborn & Barr, whose founders include a former Monsanto executive.

As a growing number of consumers are choosing to buy milk that does not contain artificial growth hormones, Afact has started a counteroffensive to stop milk labels from being allowed to say they contain "no artificial growth hormone."

Cows treated with Posilac produce about one gallon more per day than untreated cows. Certain farmers want to keep using the hormone to boost their profits, while many consumers wonder about the potential health risks to humans and cows.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has declared that Posilac is safe, but many other countries have refused to approve it.

Sources: New York Times March 9, 2008