Dennis Wolff
Dennis Wolff is Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture, a dairy farmer, and reportedly a user of Monsanto's controversial genetically engineered bovine growth hormone rBGH.[1] Wolff introduced legislation in Pennsylvania that would have banned the labelling of milk as being produced without rBGH.
How did Wolff justify his action? He claimed that “Consumers are concerned or confused about product labeling. It’s a subject the department continues to receive many calls about.”[2]
However, when Andrew Martin, a reporter for the New York Times asked for evidence of this alleged consumer concern or confusion,
- Mr. Wolff’s office acknowledged that it had no consumer research to back up his claim.[3]
The story is taken up by Rick North of Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR):
- In response [to Wolff's attempt to ban rBGH-free labels], Oregon PSR and our nationwide and PA colleagues organized a massive grass roots effort to protest to Governor Ed Rendell. After receiving thousands of messages of outrage, he told Wolff to rescind the ban.[4]
In July 2009 Wolff's name surfaced again. Blogger Jill Richardson warned that US President Barack Obama was considering Wolff for the position of USDA Under Secretary for Food Safety.[5]
Contents
Afact
The New York Times's Andrew Martin mentioned in his report about the campaign to ban rBGH-free labels on milk the role played by a pro-rBGH advocacy group called American Farmers for the Advancement and Conservation of Technology, or Afact. Martin said Afact is "closely tied to Monsanto":
- Dairy farmers are indeed part of the organization. But Afact was organized in part by Monsanto and a Colorado consultant who lists Monsanto as a client.
- Afact has also received help from Osborn & Barr, a marketing firm whose founders include a former Monsanto executive. The firm received a contract in 2006 to help with the Posilac campaign.[6]
Martin adds:
- Lori Hoag, a spokeswoman for the dairy unit of Monsanto, said her company did provide financial support to Afact. But Ms. Hoag asserted that the group is led by farmers, not Monsanto.[7]
Affiliations
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Resources
Notes
- ↑ Rick North, Alert: Dennis Wolff Being Considered for Sec. of Agriculture, Organic Consumers Association website, 5 December 2008, accessed 13 July 2009
- ↑ Agriculture Department notifies companies about false or misleading milk and dairy product labels, Pennsylvania Dept of Agriculture website, 24 Oct 2007, accessed 13 July 2009
- ↑ Andrew Martin, Fighting on a Battlefield the Size of a Milk Label, New York Times, 9 March 2008, accessed 13 July 2009
- ↑ Rick North, Alert: Dennis Wolff Being Considered for Sec. of Agriculture, Organic Consumers Association website, 5 December 2008, accessed 13 July 2009
- ↑ HELL NO to Dennis Wolff!!, La Vida Locavore blog, 10 July 2009, accessed 13 July 2009
- ↑ Andrew Martin, Fighting on a Battlefield the Size of a Milk Label, New York Times, 9 March 2008, accessed 13 July 2009
- ↑ Andrew Martin, Fighting on a Battlefield the Size of a Milk Label, New York Times, 9 March 2008, accessed 13 July 2009
