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As part of their efforts to serve healthier, more sustainable food, Bon Appétit Management Company (BAMCO) has committed to only buy yogurt from cows not treated with rBGH. The change became effective August 2, 2010 and expands on their decision in 2002 to only purchase milk from cows not treated with artificial bovine growth hormones.
Bovine growth hormone occurs naturally in dairy cows and is present in all raw milk. Recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH) is a genetically engineered animal drug injected into cows to increase milk production.
The decision to go with non-rGBH yogurt bolsters Bon Appétit’s ten-year-old Farm to Fork program, which targets farms and producers that are small-scale, owner-operated, and sit within a 150 mile radius of the cafés they serve. According to Food and Water Watch, while 54% of large herd farmers use rBGH, only 8% of small herd farmers use the artificial hormone. Because BAMCO provides food service at over 400 locations in 31 states, their move to source more rBGH-free products is expected to be a boost for small farmers and producers.
The policy also supports the health of dairy herds and the humans who eat their milk products.
First approved by the FDA in 1993, the use of rBGH is controversial. rBGH is banned in most industrial nations including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and all 27 nations of the European Union. Cows that receive rBGH injections experience higher rates of mastitis, an infection of the udder that leads to swelling and inflammation. Not only is this painful for the cow, it often forces dairy farmers to rely on antibiotics to treat these infections, creating a cycle of unnecessary medical intervention and possibly contributing to the growing problem of antibiotic resistance. The pharmaceutical labels on packages of rBGH list 16 toxic side effects, including hoof problems, increased pus in milk, heat stress, diarrhea and other gastrointestinal problems.
Some in the medical community have expressed concern that the use of these artificial hormones may also be harmful to human health. Although further study is needed, a significant body of scientific data has linked rBGH to possible increases in cancer and antibiotic resistance in humans.
In announcing the decision to go with rGBH-free yogurt, BAMCO CEO Fedele Bauccio said, “At Bon Appétit Management Company, we believe it is imperative that restaurant companies take an active role in promoting sustainable food systems. Buying our yogurt from manufacturers that ban artificial growth hormones is a triple win – for concerned consumers, conscientious dairy farmers, and committed businesses that are passionate about the importance of healthy animals and healthy foods.”
Bon Appétit Management Company (www.bamco.com) is an onsite restaurant company offering full foodservice management to corporations, universities and specialty venues. Bon Appétit is committed to sourcing sustainable, local foods. A pioneer in environmentally-sound sourcing policies, Bon Appétit has developed programs addressing local purchasing, the overuse of antibiotics, sustainable seafood, cage-free eggs, the connection between food and climate change, and most recently, farmworkers’ rights. The company has received numerous awards for its work from organizations like the Natural Resources Defense Council, Seafood Choices Alliance, The Humane Society of the United States, and Food Alliance.
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