Who offers rBGH-Free Milk?

Since the recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH) was introduced onto the market in 1993, a limited percentage of the US milk supply has come from cows injected with the hormone. Since the milk of many different cows is routinely co-mingled in bulk tanks at most of the nation’s dairies, this means that the majority of non-organic dairy products probably contain at least trace levels of rBGH. While Monsanto, the maker of rBGH, claims that up to one-third of US cows have been injected, (8) critics of the drug believe the actual figure is more like 5-7 percent. In response to rBGH’s introduction into the milk business, several hundred companies now require written affidavits from their milk suppliers that no rBGH was injected into the cows, and label the milk as rBGH-free. Approximately 10 percent of fluid milk in the US is now labeled rBGH-free.

Others have capitalized on the growing market niche of organic milk – which is guaranteed to be GE-free since organic certification prohibits the use of rBGH. Since the introduction of rBGH, sales of organic milk have skyrocketed. For instance, sales grew from $16 million in 1996, to $31 million in 1997. (9)

Ben & Jerry’s Homemade Inc. takes steps to ensure that the milk in its ice cream does not come from cows injected with recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone. The company is also making sure that brownies and other ingredients are not made from genetically engineered ingredients.

All dairy products made from sheep or goat’s milk are rBGH-free – the drug is not used with these animals. rBGH is not approved for use in Canada, the European Union, New Zealand, and Australia. Cheeses and other dairy products from any of these countries are rBGH-free.

Below is a partial list, put together by Rural Vermont and Mothers & Others, of milk and dairy companies that have pledged that their milk does not come from cows injected with the Bovine Growth Hormone.  The first section lists companies with organic dairy products; the second section lists companies with rBGH-free (but not necessarily organic) products.  Those marked with “*” are small family farms.

·        rBGH-free (Organic)

·        These milk and dairy companies carry some or all organic products.

·        Alta Dena Organics (Cheese), City of Industry, CA, 800/535-1369, available nationwide.

·        Bart's Homemade (Low-Fat Organic Ice Cream), Greenfield, MA, 413/774-7438, available in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, and at their own store in Greenfield.

·        Brookside Farm* (Milk and Cream), Westminster, MA, 978/874-2695, available in Massachusetts.

·        Butternut Farms* (Cheese), NY, 607/783-2392,http://www.butternutfarms.com, available in the Northeast and by mail order.

·        Butterworks Farm* (Yogurt, Cream, Cheese, Cottage Cheese), Westfield, VT, 802/744-6855, available in the Northeast and at the farm; cheese also available by mail order.

·        Cascadian Farm (Frozen Yogurt, Ice Cream), Sedro-Wooley, WA, 800/624-4123, available nationwide.

·        Cedar Grove Organic Cheese, Plain, WI, 608/546-5284, http://www.familyfarm.org, available in the Upper Midwest, at their own store in Plain, and by mail order (877/275-8354).

·        Echo Spring Dairy (organic line) (Milk, Sour Cream, Cottage Cheese), Eugene, OR, 541/753-7331, available in Idaho, Oregon, and northern California.

·        Greenbank Farms Cheese (organic line), Stonefelt Cheese Co., Preston, WA, 425/222-5500, available on the West Coast, in the Northwest, and at their own store in Preston.

·        Hart-to-Hart Farm* (Cheese and licensed Raw Milk), Albion, ME, 207/437-2441, available at the farm and at farmers' markets throughout central Maine (call for locations).

·        Hawthorne Valley Farm* (Cheese, Yogurt and Quark Cheese), Ghent, NY, 518/672-7500, available on the East Coast. Raw milk and cheese also available at their own local store and at the Union Square Farmers' Market in New York City.

·        Horizon Organic Dairy (Milk, Chocolate Milk, Cream, Whipped Cream, Yogurt, Cheese, Butter, Sour Cream, Cottage Cheese, Cream Cheese), Boulder, CO, 888/494-3020, available nationwide.

·        Kimberton Hills Farm* (licensed Raw Milk), Kimberton, PA, available at Kimberton Whole Foods Store (610/935-1444) and at the farm (610/935-0314).

·        Lifeline Farms (Cheese)*, Victor, MT, available on the West Coast. For store locations, call Mountain Peoples, 800/679-8735, . Morningland Dairy Cheese*, Mountain View, MO, 417/469-3817, available nationwide and by mail order.

·        Natural by Nature (Cheese, Cream, Buttermilk, Eggnog, Ice Cream, Butter, Yogurt, Cream Cheese, Milk, Pudding), Sunnydale Farms, Brooklyn, NY, 718/257-7600, available on the East Coast and in the Midwest.

·        Nezinscot Farm* (Cow's or Goat's Milk, Cheese, Butter), Turner, ME, 207/225-3231, available at their own store in Turner; cheese available by mail order.

·        Organic Cow of Vermont (Milk, Chocolate Milk, Sour Cream, Cottage Cheese, Butter, Cream, Eggnog), Chelsea, VT, 800/769-9693, available on the East Coast.

·        Organic Valley* (Milk, Cheese, Butter, Cream Cheese, Cottage Cheese, Sour Cream, Cream, Powdered Milk), La Farge, WI, 608/625-2600, http://www.organicvalley.com, available nationwide.

·        Ranovael Organic Dairy* (Cheese, Butter), DePere, WI, 920/336-2820, cheese available by mail order, both products available at their own store in DePere.

·        Seven Stars Farm* (Yogurt), Phoenixville, PA 610/935-1949, available in the East and Midwest.

·        Stonyfield Farms (organic line) (Yogurt and Ice Cream), Londonderry, NH, 603/437-4040, available nationwide.

·        Straus Family Creamery* (Milk, Butter, Yogurt, Cheese), Marshall, CA, 415/663-5464, http://www.strausmilk.com, available in California, Arizona, and New Mexico.

·        Wisconsin Organics* (Milk, Cheese, Butter), Bonduel, WI, 715/758-2280, available nationwide and at their own retail store in Bonduel.

RBGH-free (but not organic) Brands

These milk and dairy companies carry some or all rBGH-free products.

·        Alta Dena (Milk, Buttermilk, Chocolate Milk, Eggnog, Cream, Sour Cream, Yogurt, Natural Select Butter, Ice Cream, Cottage Cheese, and all Cheeses except for cream cheese), City of Industry, CA, 800/MILK123, available nationwide.

·        Balance Rock Farm (Milk), Berlin, MA, 978/838-2024, available at their farm store in Berlin.

·        Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream, S. Burlington, VT, 802/846-1500, www.benjerry.com/ca/ available nationwide.

·        Biazzo Dairy Products (Cheese), Riverfield, NJ, 201/941-6800, available nationwide.

·        Blythedale Farm Cheese*, Corinth, VT, 802/439-6575, available in the Northeast.

·        Booth Brothers Dairy (Milk, Cream, Chocolate Milk, Egg Nog), Barre, VT, 802/476-6605, available in Vermont and New Hampshire.

·        Brigham's Ice Cream, Arlington, MA, 800/BRIGHAMS, www.brighams.com, available in the Northeast.

·        Brown Cow Farm (·    Yogurt and Milk), Antioch, CA, 925/757-9209, www.wholemilkyogurt.com, available nationwide. Calabro Cheese Corp., East Haven, CT, 203/469-1311, www.calabrocheese.com, available on the East and West Coasts and in Ohio.

·        Cedar Grove's Family Farmer Cheeses*, Plain, WI, 608/546-5284,      www.familyfarm.org, available in the Upper Midwest, at their own store in Plain, and by mail order (800/200-6020).

·        Clover Stornetta Farms (Milk, Cheese, Sour Cream, Yogurt), Petaluma, CA, 800/237-3315, www.clo-the-cow.com, available in northern California.

·        Crescent Creamery (Milk), Pittsfield, MA, 800/221-6455, available in the Northeast.

·        Crooked Creek Farm Dairy (Milk, Ice Cream), Romeo, MI, 810/752-6095, available at farm dairy store and at select stores in southeast Michigan.

·        Crowley Cheese of Vermont, Healdville, VT, 802/259-2210, www.newenglandcheese.com/website/crowley/index2.htm, available nationwide and by mail order.

·        Derle Farms (Milk with "no rBST" label only), Brooklyn, NY, 718/257-2040, available in New York and New Jersey.

·        Dorchester Ice Cream, Boston, MA, 617/282-9600, available in the Northeast.

·        Egg Farm Dairy (Butter, Cheese, Ice Cream, Cream), Peekskill, NY, 800/CREAMERY, available at their local retail store, by mail order, and nationwide at gourmet food stores.

·        Erivan Dairy Yogurt*, Oreland, PA, 215/887-2009, available on the East Coast and in the Midwest.

·        Farmland Dairies (Milk, Chocolate Milk, Cream), Wallington, NJ, 1800/327-9522, available on the east coast.

·        Franklin County Cheese (Bagel Factory Cream Cheese, Shaw's Cream Cheese, Bruegger's Bagels Cream Cheese–eastern US only, All Seasons Kitchen @@, Lombardi’s - Cream Cheese and Mascarpone, Vermont Butter and Cheese - Mascarpone), Enosburg Falls, VT, 802/933-4338, www.franklinfoods.com, available nationwide. 

·        Golden Guernsey Dairy (Milk) and Morning Glory Dairy (Milk), from Foremost Farms, Baraboo, WI, 608/356-8316, available in Wisconsin and northern Illinois.

·        Grafton Village Cheese, Grafton, VT, 800/472-3866, 802/843-2221, www.graftonvillagecheese.com available nationwide and by mail order.

·        Great Hill Dairy (Cheese), Marion, MA, 508/748-2208, www.greathillblue.com, available by mail order or nationwide at gourmet stores.

·        Hatchland Dairy* (Milk, Chocolate Milk, Egg Nog, Cream), N. Haverhill, NH, 603/787-2388, available in New Hampshire and Vermont.

·        Jilbert's Dairy (Milk, Ice Cream), Marquette, MI, 906/225-1363, available in Michigan Upper Peninsula through Wisconsin border.

·        Joseph Farms Cheese, Joseph Gallo, Atwater, CA, 209/394-7984, www.josephfarms.com, available in the Northwest, Southwest, South, and Hawaii.

·        Kate's Homemade Butter, Old Orchard Beach, ME, 207/934-5134, available nationwide.

·        Kemp's Select (Milk), Kemp's Marigold Foods, Minneapolis, MN, 800/726-6455, available in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa.

·        Lifetime Dairy (Cheese), Lifeline Food Co., Seaside, CA, 831/899-5040, www.lifetimefatfree.com, available nationwide.

·        McNamara Dairy* (Milk, Chocolate Milk, Eggnog, Cream), West Lebanon, NH, 603/298-6666, available in New Hampshire and Vermont.

·        Monument Farms* (Milk, Cottage Cheese, Buttermilk, Cream), Middlebury, VT, 802/545-2119, available in Vermont and at their own store in Weybridge, VT.

·        North Farm Cooperative* (Cheese), Madison, WI, 800/236-5880, 608/241/2667, www.northfarm-coop.com, available nationwide and by mail order.

·        Oberweiss Dairy (Milk and Ice Cream), Aurora, IL, 630/897-6600, available in Illinois.

·        Orb Weaver Farm* (Cheese), New Haven, VT, 802/877-3755, available in Vermont, by mail order, at the farm, and at Murray's Cheese Shop in New York City.

·        Pollard Dairy (Milk, Chocolate Milk, Whipped Cream), Norway, MI, 906/563-8815, Michigan upper peninsula, northeastern Wisconsin.

·        Rustling Winds Creamery (Cheese, Milk but bring your own container), Falls Village, CT, 860/824-7084, available at their farm store; cheese available by mail order.

·        Salemville Cheese, North Farm Cooperative, Madison, WI, 800/236-5880, nationwide and by mail order.

·        Shelburne Farms Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese*, Shelburne, VT, 802/985-8686, available nationwide, by mail order, and at their own farm-site store.

·        Stonyfield Farms (Yogurt, Frozen Yogurt, Ice Cream), Londonderry, · NH, 603/437-5050, www.stonyfield.com, available nationwide. Sugarbush Farm* (Cheese), Woodstock, VT, 800/281-1757, available in the Northeast and by mail order.

·        Thomas Dairy (Milk, Cream, Eggnog, Chocolate Milk, Butter, Sour Cream, Yogurt, Buttermilk), Rutland, VT, 802/773-6788, available in central Vermont.

·        Vermont Family Farms* (Milk), Vermont Milk Producers, Whiting, VT, 802/897-2769, available in Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and upstate New York.

·        Westby Cooperative Creamery* (Cottage Cheese, Sour Cream, French Onion Dip, Butter, Cheese), Westby, WI, 800/492-9282, www.wwestbycreamery.com, available in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois and at their own store in Westby; cheese available by mail order.

·        Wilcox Dairy (Milk, Ice Cream), Manchester, VT, 800/262-1223, available in Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and in upstate New York.