Food labels can be quite misleading. The Monsanto Company, a worldwide leader in agricultural products, has sued a small, family-owned dairy in Maine because of the labels on their milk cartons, according to a report in the July 11, 2003 New York Times. The Oakhurst Dairy milk cartons carry the statement, "Our farmers' pledge: no artificial growth hormones." The Monsanto Company says that the statement is deceptive and misleading because it implies that the use of artificial hormones might be unsafe or result in lower quality. Monsanto’s Posilac product has been approved by the U.S. FDA. Many in the agricultural industry believe it is entirely safe for the cows and for the people who drink their milk. There are no requirements for mentioning its use on milk labels. On the contrary, informing consumers about its lack of use spurred this lawsuit filed at the U.S. District Court in Boston. The use of artificial growth hormones in cows has been banned in Canada and in Europe. In the U.S., organic foods are not allowed to contain these hormones. In Maine, dairies must prove they do not use them if they want to get the state’s quality seal of approval on their cartons (which the Oakhurst Dairy has).

Monsanto reports that “Posilac bovine somatotropin is the largest-selling dairy-related animal health product in the world.” Monsanto also makes Roundup (“the world’s No. 1 selling herbicide. Global sales of Roundup and other glyphosate-based herbicides exceed those of the next six leading herbicide chemistries combined.”). In addition, they offer Roundup Ready soybeans – soybeans that have been genetically engineered to withstand Roundup. They are the number two provider of soybeans in the U.S. Like Posilac these products are approved as safe, and there are no requirements to mention their use on food labels.