rBGH Free
Our milk and yogurt comes from cows not treated with artificial bovine growth hormones
As part of our commitment to responsible animal welfare practices and the health of our guests, in 2002 we switched to using milk from cows not treated with rBGH. We later added yogurt to this sourcing standard.*
Recombinant bovine growth hormone (known as rBGH and also in its patented form as rBST) is a genetically engineered hormone that is injected into dairy cows to raise their milk production. It has been shown to increase the rates of mastitis and lameness in cows. A significant body of scientific data has also linked its use to possible increases in certain types of cancer and to antibiotic resistance in humans. Most other industrialized nations have banned the use of rBGH.
*The Food and Drug Administration requires that voluntary labeling of dairy “from cows not treated with rBST” be accompanied by the statement that “No significant difference has been shown between milk derived from rBST-treated and non-rBST-treated cows.” Not all of the suppliers of our other dairy products can guarantee that the milk they use comes from untreated cows.