Everything we make is organic. Our organic ingredients are produced without the use of toxic, persistent pesticides, chemical fertilizers, synthetic growth hormones, antibiotics, and genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Through our ingredient purchases, we help to keep more than 60,000 acres of farmland free of persistent pesticides and chemical fertilizers commonly used on non-organic farms and known to contaminate soil, rivers, and drinking water.
To read more about organics, download a free copy of our booklet A Practical Guide to Understanding Organic.
Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)
We’ve never supported the use of genetically modified or engineered organisms (GMOs), and organic standards prohibit their use. We strongly support mandatory labeling of all products containing GMOs. Read more.
Bovine Growth Hormone (rBST)
We’ve been a leading voice opposing the use of genetically engineered recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH or rBST). Given the animal welfare concerns associated with the use of rBST, potential human health concerns, and our belief that widespread use of rBST could have a devastating impact on the economic wellbeing of family farmers, we’ve always bought milk only from farmers who’ve pledged to not use rBST.
Before converting all of our products to organic, we paid farmers a premium to not treat their cows with rBST. Now that everything we make is organic, you can still be assured that none of the cows providing milk for our products have been treated with rBST, because organic standards prohibit it. Read more about why we oppose the use of rBST.
Humane Animal Treatment
We've received lots of questions from our yogurt lovers about the welfare of the cows that produce milk for our yogurt, so we know that humane animal treatment is important to you. It’s important to us too.
All of the milk we use to make our products comes from organic dairy farms that adhere to or exceed livestock living condition standards set forth by the USDA. These standards require organic dairy farmers to maintain livestock living conditions that accommodate the health and natural behavior of the animal, including:
- Access to the outdoors, shade, shelter, exercise areas, fresh air, and direct sunlight suitable to the species, its stage of production, the climate, and the environment;
- Access to pasture, for ruminants;
- Appropriate, clean, dry bedding;
- Shelter designed to allow for:
~ Natural maintenance, comfort behaviors, and opportunity to exercise;
~Temperature level, ventilation, and air circulations suitable to
the species;
~Reduction of potential for livestock injury.
Temporary confinement of an animal is allowed under certain circumstances such as in the event of inclement weather, risks to soil or water quality, or when the health and well being of the animal could be jeopardized.
Just today the USDA released new draft rules that will strengthen the requirement that organic cows have access to pasture. The proposed rule is at www.ams.usda.gov/nop under “Today’s News.” Comments will be accepted by mail and through the Internet at www.regulations.gov. There is a 60 day comment period.
In addition to the US National Organic Standards, the milk for our yogurt and smoothies comes from Organic Valley/CROPP Cooperative. CROPP has an on-staff Animal Husbandry Specialist and has developed their own humane animal standards beyond those required by organic standards. For specific questions contact Organic Valley at 1-888 444 MILK.
|
|
