Monsonto bullying tiny family dairy farm

[protect freedom impeach bush now]

http://www.workingforchange.com/activism/action.cfm?ItemId=15454&afccode=WFC004&CFID=9060746&CFTOKEN=52419532

Monsanto, Stop Bullying Tiny Dairy Over Growth Hormones

Contributed by Working Assets

In a move of Goliath attacking David, Monsanto, the multi-national agrichemical company, is suing a small, family-owned milk producer in Maine because they advertise that their farmers pledge not to use artificial growth hormones (also known as rBST) on the cows that produce their milk.

Oakhurst Dairy pays its suppliers a price premium not to use artificial growth hormones on their cows and they advertise this via a Farmer's Pledge emblem on their products. They do so in order to respond to consumer demand for dairy products produced by cows free of rBST. The dairy makes no health claim about the Farmer's Pledge, but Monsanto claims that even a factual assertion misleads consumers!

Although approved for use in the United States by the FDA, artificial growth hormone is already banned in the European Union and Canada, and Monsanto clearly fears that even informing consumers of its use will damage its sales. Monsanto's lawsuit demands that Oakhurst only be able to keep the Farmer's Pledge label if it adds information about FDA approval. Not surprisingly, Monsanto is not asking that the label include information about the European Union and Canadian bans.

Lawsuits such as this are shameless attempts to use the financial clout of a multi-billion monopolist to intimidate a tiny family-owned business. Consumers clearly want the information being provided to them, and Monsanto should get out of the way.

[samsingh]

1. i've heard lots of horror stories of Monsanto

and their bullying of small companies and small nations.

[peacefreak]

2. Yep

that's why I go out of my way to buy Oakhurst products.

[DarkPhenyx]

3. If I were the Farmer I'd comply...

...just to avoid the cost of a lawsuit, then I'd also add the info on EU and Canadian bans. Then again I'm an asshole. REEEEEEEEaly hate getting pushed around, and since they won't let me shoot people for pissing me off.....

[bpilgrim]

5. lol

now i read yours =)

i like how us evil DU'ers think alike ;->

:hi:

peace

[bpilgrim]

4. they should submit

and include the info about it's banning in europe etc :evilgrin:

bet it would not only save them money but more IMPORTANTLY BOOST SALES :bounce:

then stick to their guns on the next law suit ;-)

peace

[denverbill]

6. They should replace their wording.

Replace it with articles on what a shitty company Monsanto is.

[Squeech]

7. Another Monsanto litigation

There was a farmer in... Montana?... who planted corn from seed stock that wasn't Monsanto's and didn't have the genetic material from legumes that causes problems for people with peanut allergies. But when he harvested his crop and brought it to market, tests showed that the gene had gotten in there, presumably by natural cross-pollination by insects. So he couldn't sell his crop as untainted.

Monsanto's response was to sue the farmer for copyright infringement.