What is rBST?

What is recombinant bovine somatotropin (rBST), also known as recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH)?Recombinant bovine growth hormone (also known as rBGH or rBST) is a genetically engineered drug produced by the Monsanto
Corporation. It is injected into dairy cows to induce them to increase milk production, typically by 5-15%. It's estimated that 15-20% of
the cows in the United States are injected with this hormone. It was approved by the FDA in 1993.

Four pharmaceutical companies, Monsanto, American Cyanamid, Eli Lilly, and Upjohn, raced to have commercial rights to rbST. On November 5, 1993, the FDA gave its approval to Monsanto to sell rbST under the name Posilac. Injections of Posilac must be administered in 14-day intervals.(12) Pharmaceutical companies, particularly Monsanto, fully support the sale of rbST. A Monsanto spokeswoman projects that BGH sales will reach $100 million in 1994.

Report on the Food and Drug Administration's Review of the Safety of Recombinant Bovine Somatotropin

This report was updated on April 23, 2009 to clarify quantities of growth hormone found in milk and those used in the 1989 rat study.

INTRODUCTION
On November 5, 1993, following extensive review of the data to support the safety and effectiveness of the product, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA or Agency) approved the Monsanto Companys New Animal Drug Application for Posilac containing a recombinant bovine growth hormone (rbGH) (also known as recombinant bovine somatotropin, rbST, or Sometribove).

In order to grant approval of Posilac, FDA determined, among other things, that food products from cows treated with rbGH are safe for consumption by humans.
http://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/SafetyHealth/ProductSafetyInformation/ucm130321.htm

Today, Monsanto announced that Eli Lilly, one of the biggest of the Big Pharma companies, had bought Posilac (brand name for rBGH) for $300 million. AP reports that Monsanto could get additional cash for Posilac down the road, if it turns out to be a winner for Lilly.

And that bit about Posilac's buyer not having Monsanto's deep pockets? Well, Lilly has even deeper pockets than the GMO seed giant. According to Yahoo Finance, Monsanto has annual revenue of $11 billion and cash on hand of $1.75 billion, compared to Lilly's $19.7 billion in annual revenue and $5.2 billion in cash.

Perhaps Lilly hopes to make a killing marketing Posilac in foreign markets. According to AP, Lilly "has been marketing [Posilac] for Monsanto outside the U.S. for 10 years."

http://www.grist.org/article/monsanto-finds-a-buyer-for-its-rbgh-business/

What are GMOs and how did this all get started.

A genetically modified organism (GMO) or genetically engineered organism (GEO) is an organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques.

The first commercially grown genetically modified whole food crop was a tomato (called FlavrSavr), which was modified to ripen without softening, by Calgene, later a subsidiary of Monsanto.^[7] Calgene took the initiative to obtain FDA approval for its release in 1994 without any special labeling, although legally no such approval was required.


A gmo can be created by adding additional genes to an already existing DNA string.  Now there is no assurances that each time that the newly created DNA string is created it is the same .  The new gene or genes added could be added in different areas of a current DNA string.  The testing of  GMOs has been done by the very companies that are trying to sell GMO products.  The fox in the hen house comes to mind.

Many of the tests that  corporations conduct are not done with proper scientific methods.  Now these test results are turned over to the Food and Drug Administration.  The FDA doesn't feel the need to run independent tests to verify the results produced by the GMO corporations. 

The GMO corporations say that they are not in the policing food business they are in business to make money.   We have a whole new technology that is being forced upon the people of the United States without any substantial independent verification.  The long term effects to adults and children has never been studied.

Where to start... I guess at the beginning

I have never been one for purchasing organic food or even paying attention at all to what I ate or where it came from.  That has now changed.  I watched a movie this year called Food, Inc.  A movie that got me thinking where does my food come from.  How is it grown or raised?  Is it really good for me.  I guess I thought as long as I was buying food at the grocery store instead of fast food restaurants that it was "healthy".  I thought that the federal government was keeping the food supply safe. 

I think it is time for a revolution!  We are the people and we want safe healthy food to eat that doesn't come at an astronomical cost.  We need to get organized and share information about what is really going on with our food supply.  Check this link out: Food, Inc.