Starbucks (slowly) Moving Toward rBGH (rBST)-free?

Starbucks Moving Toward rBGH (rBST)-free?

A memo being e-mailed to people who have called Starbucks asking them to go rBGH-free said "We are actively engaged with all of our dairy suppliers to explore a conversion of all core dairy products - fluid milk, half and half, whipping cream and eggnog - to rBST-free in our U.S. company-operated locations."

This is fantastic news and we're obviously delighted that Starbucks is moving in this direction. There are a few qualifications, however. First, there is no deadline at this point for Starbucks' dairy suppliers to go rBGH-free. We're hoping this will be months, not years. Also, this is for company-operated stores only and doesn't apply to its licensed operations in such locations as supermarkets, airports and hospitals. Its website says there are 5,668 company-operated stores (now reported to be closer to 6,000) and 3,168 licensed outlets.

Starbucks' statement said they are currently 27% rBGH-free and will be 37% rBGH-free by January 2007.The additional 10% will be the Pacific Northwest, which means all their company-owned stores in Oregon, Washington, Alaska and Idaho will serve only rBGH-free dairy products. I've received information from other sources that Safeway milk in the Northwest will be rBGH-free starting in January - more on this later.

Oregon PSR has been working quietly with Starbucks management for the past 10 months.

I've made rBGH Power Point presentations in March and April to their purchasing, dairy and social responsibility management staff at their Seattle headquarters, with Dr. Martin Donohoe connected by phone. At the latter meeting, their dairy suppliers from all over the country were present. To give you an idea of how extensive the discussions were, our Power Point is only 20 minutes and each meeting went over three hours.

Since the spring meetings, I've been in continuous contact with Starbucks management staff, keeping them updated on the latest science and rBGH news throughout the country and rebutting the information they've received from pro-rBGH forces. I've very much appreciated the opportunity to work directly with them. They have been friendly, responsive and open to receiving new information, the epitome of common courtesy. I had the sense they really wanted to do the right thing and walk the talk of their mission statement.

Other organizations have also been asking Starbucks to go rBGH-free. For many years, the Organic Consumers Association has led a campaign, spearheading the effort to offer organic choices. Food & Water Watch, a new organization, has also asked consumers to request that the stores go rBGH-free. Finally, the web-based video Meatrix 2, which spoofed factory farm dairy practices, did the same.

Congratulations to Starbucks for listening to the scientific arguments against rBGH and to their consumers' wishes. We very much appreciate the enormous amount of work they have put into this and look forward to the day when all their stores will be completely rBGH-free.

copied from Organic Bytes, e-newsletter of the Organic Consumers Association. Feel free to repost, knowledge is power!