Lawsuit pending against Dairy Industry

[OnyxCougar]

This is beyond stupid.
Source

Lawsuit Filed Against Dairy Suppliers and Retailers

OCTOBER 10, 2005 -- Ten Washington-area residents filed a class-action lawsuit against milk suppliers and retailers last Thursday in the District of Columbia's Superior Court demanding that the dairy industry place warning labels on milk cartons warning consumers of the effects of lactose intolerance.

According to a recent Progressive Grocer article, the plaintiffs, which include a seven-year-old boy and a Maryland doctor, are targeting dairy producers Horizon Organic, Dean Foods, Nestle Holdings, Farmland Dairies, Shenandoah's Pride, Stonyfield Farm, and Cloverland Farms Dairy and supermarket chains Safeway and Giant Food. The plaintiffs are represented by a lawyer with the Washington-based Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), a public health group. The group is seeking a required label, such as: "Warning -- If you experience diarrhea or stomach cramps after consuming milk, you may be lactose intolerant. Check with your physician."

"The plaintiffs are suing on behalf of all D.C. residents," said PCRM in a statement released Thursday. "Many area residents are not aware they are lactose intolerant and unwittingly buy milk, only to suffer side effects after drinking it." They also charge the dairy industry with "deceiving the public into thinking that milk is essential."

The group claims that 75 percent of the world's population -- including 60 to 80 percent of African-Americans, 50 to 80 percent of Latinos, and at least 90 percent of Asian-Americans and Native Americans -- is lactose intolerant.

"Because of dairy's unique package of nutrients and important health benefits, the government's 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that people who are sensitive to lactose choose alternatives from within the milk group first, such as lactose-free milk, aged cheeses, or yogurt with active cultures. Research shows that most people who have difficulties digesting lactose can enjoy up to two cups of milk a day, particularly if they drink it with meals," said the International Dairy Foods Association (IFDA) in response to the lawsuit.

"Unfortunately, the legal action announced by PCRM is yet another attempt by this animal-rights group to grab headlines at the expense of sound health and nutrition information," the IFDA continued. "The bottom line is that when it comes to nutrition, people should listen to health and nutrition professionals, not an animal-rights group."

According to The Associated Press, the suit is asking for no more than $100,000 in total damages for the 10 plaintiffs. In June, the Physicians Committee filed a suit claiming the dairy industry and other food companies falsely advertised that dairy consumption helped people lose weight and it is still pending.

[wolf]

The mommy state folks strike again.

[Tonchi]

If they want to sue the milk industry, they can find plenty of reasons other than to save people from not having the sense to stop consuming something which is making them sick. For instance: I discovered that the Feds allow milk producers to put WHITE DYE in the milk fluids because it would not look very appetizing by itself. How many of you knew that half of what you are drinking is artificial coloring? Now you know why sometimes you see swirls on the top of the carton that almost looks like the stuff is separating

[Undertoad]

Feds allow milk producers to put WHITE DYE in the milk fluids

Please include a link to a non-wingnut website that proves this statement.

[Griff]

Hmmm... it's white coming out of the cow.

[Undertoad]

[BigV]

UT, technically, that doesn't come from a cow...smells and tastes the same I reckon, though.

[Undertoad]

(I was just waiting for a chance to use my new meter)

[Griff]

You didn't have to wait too long around here, did you?

[xoxoxoBruce]

Could be true..
The milk sold today has most of the cream (butterfat) removed. Then there's 2%, 1% and skim.
Back when there was just whole and skim milk, when you poured the skim milk into a glass or on your Wheaties, it was translucent. Whole milk was opaque.
Now, all milk seems to be opaque.

[Tonchi]

Originally Posted by Undertoad

Feds allow milk producers to put WHITE DYE in the milk fluids

Please include a link to a non-wingnut website that proves this statement.

Toad, I'll try to find that in writing for you later. Here's how I found out: While I was living in Phoenix my then-husband was selling copiers. He sold one to a dairy and we drove out there one afternoon to deliver it. While I was waiting for the copier to be installed, I overheard a conversation in that office that some agency was investigating them for not having some measurement required in their milk. I don't remember all the details because that was 20 years ago, but the next morning there was a story about it in the Arizona Republic, and it gave the percentages of "ADDITIVES" which are allowed to be present in pasteurized milk. That's right, additives introduced to the milk outside the cow. The article actually said that white coloring may be added by the producer up to a certain percent of volume (and I don't remember the figures).

As for your "bullshit meter", yep, they find bullshit in the milk occasionally too, as well as in your hamburger, tomatoes, and other delicacies. Isn't that why we need a Federal Government? To inspect and document everything carefully and professionally and never make mistakes so that we are all safe to consume anything in our food supply?????

[Griff]

It isn't added at the producer level, if it is added at all.

[OnyxCougar]

Originally Posted by Tonchi

If they want to sue the milk industry, they can find plenty of reasons .... For instance: ... the Feds allow milk producers to put WHITE DYE in the milk fluids .....

Um...if the feds allow it, then how can you sue the industry for doing it?? I don't get it?

[Undertoad]

Although milk is the most thoroughly tested of all foodstuffs, the Federal Government does not test it.

There is, in fact, no such thing as "white dye". White is the absence of color. Sometimes you can add blue dye to something to make it seem whiter, if it is yellowed; this is why laundry detergent is generally blue, not white.

[Sundae]

I have googled extensively on colouring/ milk/ additives etc, and have not found it yet. In fact cheese makers add more or less dye to their product to counteract the seasonal variations in milk colour.

Non of the anti-milk sites, however much they froth at the mouth, have raised the issue of colour. The only site I found which had any reference at all claimed it was bleached. I haven't included a link as it was a single line unsupported claim.

Still - I have read more about pus and blood than makes me strictly comfortable.....!