Does the milk we drink contain growth hormones? Experts say that the current domestic testing of dairy products do not have growth hormone program, does not exclude small brands, small cattle farms to drill the legal loophole A few days ago, the U.S. Starbucks because of the discovery of its dairy products, milk products contain substances that may cause cancer - artificial growth hormone and emergency withdrawal, China Starbucks claimed that its milk are locally procured, does not contain growth hormone. "Is there any growth hormone in the milk we drink?" Immediately caused widespread concern among consumers - a few days ago, the headquarters of the U.S. Starbucks Corporation announced that it would completely replace the milk and milk products used in Starbucks coffee shops across the U.S. because they may contain the artificial growth hormone rBGH, which is suspected to be carcinogenic. In response, Starbucks China said that the milk and dairy products used by the company are sourced domestically and do not contain growth hormones. It is reported that China's current regulations do not allow the addition of growth hormones to feedstuffs. However, experts have warned that since the state of dairy products, fresh milk purchase does not carry out growth hormone program testing, so do not rule out some of the milk powder from informal cattle farms to acquire raw materials for milk products contain growth hormones. U.S. Starbucks 63% of dairy products containing suspected carcinogens A few days ago, Starbucks U.S. head office spokesman Pohlmann said the company has notified all milk suppliers to provide them with milk that does not contain the artificial growth hormone rBGH. From the end of 2006, the company has begun to gradually use rBGH-free milk, and currently 37% of the milk and related products used in stores already do not contain rBGH. in other words, that is, 63% of the Starbucks food products involving milk ingredients in the United States contain probable carcinogens. It is reported that in addition to fresh milk, Starbucks store-related dairy products also include thin cream, whipped cream and eggnog used in coffee. It is reported that in many countries, the artificial growth hormone rBGH is not allowed to be used. China's Starbucks Claims Milk Sourced Locally Consumer advocacy groups in the U.S. have long vehemently protested the presence of the artificial growth hormone rBGH in Starbucks' milk, an additive that boosts milk production. Some consumer advocacy groups claim that the artificial growth hormone rBGH has the potential to increase consumers' chances of developing cancer and is harmful to the cows themselves. Some U.S. studies have shown that women who drink this milk do have an increased chance of developing breast cancer. A few days ago, Sun Kejiang, the relevant head of Starbucks Greater China's public relations department, told reporters that Starbucks' food in China is supplied by local suppliers, and therefore does not contain the suspected carcinogen rBGH. "Providing our customers with high-quality, nutritious and healthy products is one of our top priorities, and we, in China, have always been strict in asking our suppliers to ensure that they provide us with rBGH-free milk." Sun Kejiang said. It is reported that the current supplier of Starbucks dairy products in China is Nestle. Yesterday, Nestle responded to reporters that in China, the company's dairy products sold to Starbucks are made from raw milk produced locally in China. The rBGH hormone situation mentioned in the news report only happened in the United States. The hormone is banned in China. Experts:Dairy products imported from the United States may contain rBGH According to Wang Dingmian, vice president of the Guangdong Provincial Dairy Association, the United States is a self-contained organization in terms of the method of raising cows, which is different from the European Union, Australia and New Zealand. The U.S. dairy farms are pursuing high milk production, so they will allow the addition of oxytocin to the feed during breeding. On the other hand, the European Union and Australia are pursuing low-cost and high-quality milk, so they will not contain hormones. So, the domestic production of milk and dairy products will also contain artificial growth hormone rBGH? In this regard, the Guangdong Provincial Dairy Association Secretary General Lin Shubin said, so far, the State Ministry of Agriculture has not approved the use of this artificial hormone in domestic dairy farming, domestic milk and dairy products should not contain this substance. According to the Beijing Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine General Station experts, rBGH this hormone contains hormones that can promote the growth of animals, there is no domestic manufacturers of such drugs, but whether the introduction of foreign countries to see whether the Ministry of Agriculture for the record. Wang Dingmian emphasized that rBGH used to improve milk production, China's regulations for the management of cattle farms have been emphasized, shall not be added to the feed and use, so standardized, large cows produced milk should not contain such substances. However, according to industry insiders, in the procurement of fresh milk in the relevant regulations, the national standard does not state whether it is permitted to contain growth hormone, but only written for pesticide residues, antibiotic limits, and in the relevant state departments of dairy products, milk products testing, there is no testing of this project. Therefore, do not rule out some small cattle farms, small farmers to exploit the legal loopholes, such as the state regulations shall not be added to the feed growth hormone, but it is possible that some people use injections, for cows into the growth hormone. There is also a possibility that some companies in the dairy products added to the U.S. imported milk powder, and these milk powder may also contain growth hormones. By Ou Zhi Kui Small information Consumption of rBGH-containing dairy products to increase the chances of prostate cancer According to relevant information, rBGH artificial growth hormone can promote milk production in dairy cows, but increase the chances of cancer. rBGH (Recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone) was approved by the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) in 1994 for use in promoting milk production in dairy cows, with a maximum increase in yield of 20%. However, after the increase in milk production, it was found that the content of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in this milk also increased, and if you consume the milk or its products, the chances of developing prostate cancer or menopausal breast cancer will increase. According to a study by British female professor Jane Plante, the probability of breast cancer in women who drank this type of milk did increase a bit. It is known that rBGH has been banned in Europe and Canada.