Pennsylvania Reverses Ban On "Hormone-Free" Milk Labeling

Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell (D) overruled a ban by the state's Department of Agriculture on the labelling of milk as "hormone free."

The department had set the ban in Nov. 2007 at the urging of parts of the dairy industry, who argued that even when produced with artificial hormones, the final milk product is indistinguishable from milk produced without hormones.

Rendell said he was changing the ban to improve consumer confidence. Under the new rule, labels declaring milk "hormone free" will also have to contain a disclaimer saying "no significant difference has been shown between milk from cows treated with artificial growth hormones and other milk," according to the Associated Press.

"The public has a right to complete information about how the milk they buy is produced," Rendell said.

• "Pennsylvania Officials Rescind Ban on 'Hormone-Free' Milk Labels," Associated Press via First Amendment Center, Jan. 24, 2008.
• Press Release from PA Gov. Ed Rendell of Jan. 17, 2008.
• Previous Story: WatchDog of Nov. 28, 2007.