Mysterious Production Problems at Monsanto's rBGH Factory

THE
AGRIBUSINESS
EXAMINER
December 23, 2003, Issue #314
Monitoring Corporate Agribusiness
>From a Public Interest Perspective

EDITOR\PUBLISHER; A.V. Krebs
E-MAIL: avkrebs@earthlink.net
WEB SITE: http://www.ea1.com/CARP/
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OOPS!!! MONSANTO "MAKING
MANUFACTURING CORRECTIONS
AND IMPROVEMENTS TO THEIR rBGH PLANT"

DAIRYLINE, DAIRYBUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS:A surprise announcement [December
19] from Monsanto stated that supplies of Posilac bovine somatotropin are
being "temporarily limited" because demand has reportedly outpaced supply.
Manufacturing "corrections and improvements" are being made to plants to
allow for increased production, according to the announcement, but the
supply shortfall expected to last several months.

The number of doses available will be allocated, according to Monsanto,
based on historical purchases, and the company expects to be able to offer
up to 85% of a customer's past monthly shipment average.

ROBERT COHEN, <www.notmilk.com> : Mark down this date, December 19, 2003.
This very well be the moment that ended the use of genetically engineered
foods in America's food.

Milk and Dairy products sold in America may have been seriously
contaminated. Immediately pour all milk down the drain. What's wrong? FDA's
not talking. Just to be safe, immediately discard all of your dairy
products.

Monsanto has experienced a big problem with their genetically engineered
bovine growth hormone. They've issued a press release indicating that
Poslilac (rbGH, rbST) will be experiencing restricted deliveries and only
limited supplies will be available to farmers.

In an embargoed press release (Monsanto would not allow this information to
be released until noon (CST) of December 19, 2003), Monsanto wrote regarding
their manufacturing facility:

"They are making manufacturing corrections and improvements to their
plant..."

This is Monsanto's convoluted way of saying "OOPS!"

What does that say for biotechnology?

I called FDA on Friday afternoon, but nobody is talking.

I spoke with the Commissioner's office.

I left messages for Dr. Steven Sundlov, director of FDA's investigative
branch, Center for Veterinary Medicine.

I spoke with Linda Tollifson's office. Linda actually runs things at CVM.
Down the chain of command went my phone calls. I spoke to Lynn Post, who
said: "We knew there's a problem. We don't know the details. We don't have
all the information at this time."

Spoken like a politician. Thanks to all the zippermouths who seem more
interested in protecting Monsanto than the American people, who continue to
drink genetically enginered milk.

After speaking with FDA's press office, I've filed a Freedom of Information
Act Request (FOIA). Will I get to the truth? You bet. One way or another...