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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

They Vouch For The Purity Of Their Cows

Associated Press

Ben & Jerry’s soon will declare on the labels of ice cream products such as Chunky Monkey and Cherry Garcia its opposition to using artificial hormones in dairy cows.

The government says the hormone known as BGH is safe, but Ben & Jerry’s labels will announce that farmers supplying milk to the company have agreed not to use the genetically engineered substance to increase milk output.

Ben & Jerry’s had wanted to label its products “BGH free.” Public health officials in Illinois objected that such language is misleading and could imply that milk from BGH-treated cows is somehow tainted.

Ben & Jerry’s and three other organic food companies have settled a 1996 lawsuit against Illinois. The parties agreed to compromise language to include the statement: “We oppose recombinant bovine growth hormone. The family farmers who supply our milk pledge not to treat their cows” with the hormone.