CONSUMERS’ GUIDE to rBGH (rBST) -FREE DAIRY PRODUCTS
If you consume dairy products, Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility recommends buying products from cows NOT injected with recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH or rBST). It increases disease rates in cows and has been linked to possible increases in cancer and antibiotic resistance in humans. It is disallowed in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and all 25 nations of the European Union.
These brands allow the use of rBGH in their products: Albertson’s, Andersen and Western Family.
Some brands are split: Tillamook cheese is produced rBGH-free, but not their other dairy products. Umpqua milk is rBGH-free, but not their ice cream. Safeway Dairy Glen and Lucerne milk (in the Northwest) is rBGH-free, but not their other dairy products. Most Darigold milk is rBGH-free, but not all. Darigold yogurt is rBGH-free, but not other dairy products.
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There are two categories of rBGH-free products – organic and conventional. The best thing to do is LOOK AT THE LABEL. Conventional rBGH-free brands are typically labeled “rBGH-free,” “rBST-free” or “no artificial hormones.” Brands in the table below have policies against the use of rBGH. Please note: Local, independent food co-ops and natural food stores, not listed below for space reasons, often have a wide variety of rBGH-free products. This includes stores carrying organic products.
rBGH-FREE MILK
|
rBGH-FREE BRAND |
ORGANIC? |
STORE(S) AVAILABLE (Note: Some brands are not available at all store locations) |
|
Alpenrose |
No |
Albertson’s, New Seasons, QFC, Thriftway, Zupan’s |
|
Eberhard’s |
No |
Albertson’s, Fred Meyer, Ray’s, Safeway, Sentry |
|
Fred Meyer/Mountain Dairy |
No |
Fred Meyer |
|
Horizon |
Yes |
Albertson’s, Fred Meyer, QFC, Safeway, Wild Oats |
|
Lochmead |
No |
Dari-Mart |
|
Mallories |
No |
BP Mini-marts, Food For Less, Roth’s IGA, Shopping Cart, Thriftway |
|
Market of Choice |
No |
Market of Choice |
|
Noris |
Yes |
New Seasons |
|
Organic Valley |
Yes |
Albertson’s, Fred Meyer, Haggen’s, New Seasons, QFC, Roth’s IGA, Thriftway, Whole Foods, Wild Oats, Zupan’s |
|
Pacific Village |
Yes |
New Seasons |
|
Safeway – Dairy Glen & Lucerne |
No |
Safeway |
|
Stremick’s Heritage |
Yes |
Winco |
|
Sunshine |
No |
Grocery Outlet, New Seasons, Whole Foods, Wild Oats |
|
Trader Joe’s |
Org. and Non-org. |
Trader Joe’s |
|
Umpqua |
No |
Market of Choice |
|
Wilcox |
Org. and Non-org. |
Costco, Haggen’s, QFC, 7-11, Wal-Mart |
rBGH-FREE BUTTER
|
Beecher’s |
No |
Zupan’s |
|
Eberhard’s |
No |
Albertson’s, Fred Meyer, Ray’s, Safeway, Sentry |
|
Horizon |
Yes |
Fred Meyer, Haggen’s, New Seasons, Safeway, Thriftway, Wild Oats |
|
Organic Valley |
Yes |
Albertson’s, Fred Meyer, Haggen’s, New Seasons, Wild Oats, Zupan’s |
|
Pacific Village |
Yes |
New Seasons |
|
Rose Valley |
Org. and Non-org. |
Roth’s IGA, Thriftway, Zupan’s |
|
Trader Joe’s |
Org. and Non-org. |
Trader Joe’s |
|
Whole Foods 365 |
No |
Whole Foods |
|
Woodstock |
Yes |
New Seasons |
rBGH-FREE CHEESE
Note: Below is a sample of rBGH-free cheeses. Cheeses from Canada and any European Union nation are rBGH-free, though not usually labeled.
|
rBGH-FREE BRAND |
ORGANIC? |
STORES AVAILABLE |
|
Bravo Farms |
No |
New Seasons, Wild Oats |
|
Horizon |
Yes |
New Seasons, QFC, Safeway, Thriftway, Whole Foods, Wild Oats |
|
Oregon Gourmet |
No |
Market of Choice, New Seasons, Whole Foods |
|
Organic Valley |
Yes |
Albertson’s, Fred Meyer, Haggen’s, Market of Choice, New Seasons, Ray’s Food Place, Roth’s IGA, QFC, Thriftway, Whole Foods, Wild Oats, Zupan’s |
|
Rogue Creamery |
Org. and Non-org. |
Lamb’s Markets, Market of Choice, New Seasons, Whole Foods |
|
Tillamook |
No |
Most area stores |
|
Trader Joe’s (NOT ALL) |
No |
Trader Joe’s |
|
Whole Foods 365 |
No |
Whole Foods |
|
Willamette Valley |
No |
New Seasons |
rBGH-FREE ICE CREAM
|
Ben & Jerry’s |
Org. and Non-org. |
Albertson’s, F. Meyer, Haggen’s, N. Seasons, QFC, Safeway, Thriftway, Trad. Joe’s, Whole Foods, Wild Oats, Zupan’s |
|
Double Rainbow |
No |
New Seasons, Roth’s IGA,Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods |
|
Eberhard’s |
No |
Albertson’s, Fred Meyer, Ray’s, Safeway, Sentry |
|
Julie’s Organic |
Yes |
New Seasons, Wild Oats |
|
Lochmead |
No |
Dari-Mart |
|
Stonyfield Farm |
No |
New Seasons, Wild Oats |
|
Straus |
Yes |
Market of Choice |
|
Wallaby |
Yes |
Thriftway |
|
Whole Foods 365 |
No |
Whole Foods |
rBGH-FREE YOGURT
|
Brown Cow |
No |
Albertson’s, Market of Choice, New Seasons, Safeway, Thriftway, Whole Foods, Wild Oats, Zupan’s |
|
Cascade Fresh |
No |
Food For Less, Fred Meyer, Haggen’s, Market of Choice, New Seasons, QFC, Ray’s Food Place, Roth’s IGA, Thriftway, Wal-Mart, Wild Oats, Zupan’s |
|
Darigold |
No |
Albertson’s, Food For Less, Ray’s Food Place, Sentry, Thriftway |
|
Horizon |
Yes |
New Seasons, Safeway, Wild Oats, Zupan’s |
|
Nancy’s |
Org. and Non- Org. |
Albertson’s, Fred Meyer, Haggen’s, Market of Choice, New Seasons, Safeway, Thriftway, Wild Oats, Zupan’s |
|
Stonyfield Farm |
Org. and Non-Org. |
Albertson’s, Fred Meyer, Haggen’s, New Seasons, Safeway, Thriftway, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, Wild Oats |
|
Trader Joe’s |
Org. and Non-Org. |
Trader Joe’s |
|
Wallaby |
Yes |
New Seasons, Whole Foods, Wild Oats |
|
Wilcox |
Org. and Non-Org. |
Haggen’s, QFC |
THIS GUIDE IS ALSO AVAILABLE ON OREGON PSR’S WEBSITE: www.oregonpsr.org.