REVIEW & OUTLOOK (Editorial): Those Terrifying Cows
No modern advance is more vulnerable to damaging public assault today than agricultural biotechnology. It promises to produce a more bountiful, cheaper food supply. But for years the promise has had to confront demagogic scaremongering about the science itself, which in turn frightens consumers, which in turn causes not-very-courageous supermarket executives to repudiate the new technology. Consider the story of BST.</br></br>Since 1985, many dairy farmers have been hoping that the Food and Drug Administration would approve the use of a genetically engineered version of the growth hormone that cows secrete naturally. This hormone is bovine somatotropin, or BST, and four U.S. companies have been trying to bring it to market. When given to cows, they produce up to 25% more milk on the same amount of feed.</br></br>The FDA determined as far back as 1985 that milk from cows treated with BST is safe for human consumption. And the productivity burst from wide use of BST holds out the hope for lower prices for one of man's most basic foods. This sort of extraordinary innovation is of course one way to make life easier for people living on tight budgets, but the opposition won't stand for it.</br></br>In April, Wisconsin's Governor Tommy Thompson signed legislation to bar the use of BST there until June 1, 1991. Minnesota has enacted a similar ban. A moratorium, Governor Thompson explained, would provide "sufficient time to allow for additional farmer and consumer education on the use of" BST. Unfortunately, it is also providing time for some miseducation.</br></br>At the forefront of the anti-BST movement is free-media specialist Jeremy Rifkin, filing petitions with the FDA and raising the possibility of time-consuming litigation. Ben & Jerry's ice cream, serving a market that can afford to pay extra to feel better about living well, has already announced that it won't attach its name to dairy products made of milk from BST-treated cows. Last month, Consumers Union, which feels obliged to launch a left-wing policy offensive periodically, objected to BST. Five major grocery chains have announced their unwillingness to handle BST milk so long as the controversy lasts.