Kroger drops milk hormones

Kroger Co. will sell only milk certified to be free of a bovine growth hormone by February, the Cincinnati-based grocer said Wednesday. Earlier this year, Kroger shifted the milk it sells in the western half of the United States to a certified hormone-free supply. By February, the milk that Kroger processes and sells in its stores throughout the Midwest and Southeast will also be certified as hormone-free. This includes Kroger banner stores in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.

"Our customers' increasing interest in their health and wellness is the basis for our decision," said William Boehm, senior vice president and president of manufacturing for Kroger, in a statement. "We appreciate the willingness of dairy cooperatives across the country to work with us to make this transition in the next six months."

Steve - this is wonderful news. I venture to say we will be seeing more grocers implementing this policy in the future. It is a perfect example of how the consumer's dollar talks!

In a follow-up story, Monsanto admits that it has and will continue to reduce its supply of rBGH hormone because of waning consumer demand.

If you need reaffirmation of the dangers of this substance, read our newsletter entry this February.