Ukrop’s begins selling rBST hormone free milk

WSLS News Staff
Published: March 12, 2008

Ukrop’s adds a new product to its shelves, by taking something out of the milk you drink and dairy items you eat.

The Richmond based grocery chain, with a store in Roanoke, says it introduced rBST (recombinant bovine somatotropin hormone) hormone free milk and cream products under the Ukrop’s brand name, back on March 1st.

rBST is an artificial growth hormone used by some farmers, to increase how much milk a cow can produce.

According to a Ukrop’s news release, customers can choose rBST hormone free products that include whole, two percent, one percent, and skim milk, as well as half & half, and whipping cream.

Ukrop’s processes milk from farms in Virginia, Maryland, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania at a facility in Richmond.  The company says the farms they buy from now certify that their milk does not come from cows treated with rBST.

“Customers will not notice any difference in taste, color, nutritional value or price as a result of our transition to rBST free fluid dairy products,“ said Sam Dortch, Ukrop’s frozen food and dairy category manager, in a news release. “We strive to provide the highest quality, freshest foods available, and this transition is an example of Ukrop’s ongoing commitment to meeting our customers’ needs,“ Dortch added.

Other grocery stores offer similary non-rBST milk and other dairy product options.  It’s been a growing trend in the dairy industry in the past few years, as some have raised concerns about hormones in our milk.