About 40 percent of Illinois dairy farmers use synthetic bST and administer it to about 40 percent of their cows. The state does NOT and will NOT allow labeling because there is no way to test it to ensure it is labeled properly. All milk contains low levels of natural bST (as does human milk). (Mike Hutjens, Extension Dairy Specialist, University of Illinois - Illini DairyNET)
The designation "rbST free" is not legal. If a statement to the effect that the milk is from cows not treated with rbST, FDA requires the label state that "No significant difference has been shown between milk derived from rbST-treated and non-rbST-treated cows.'' (Geoff Benson, North Carolina State University)
