My guess is that the same explanation applies to each asterisk, whether on the front or on the back. What it means is: Milk is milk. Or, rather, milk from cows that were fed growth hormones has the same nutrition values as milk from hormone-free cows.

Is this meant to reassure the hormone-free milk consumers that they're not losing out on any RDA values? Or is this meant to reassure the hormone-laced milk consumers that they're getting the same RDA values as the hormone-free crowd?

The * after %Daily Value usually refers to "based on a 2000 calorie/day diet".

BGH is what you want to google. Bovine Growth Hormone. Banned in the EU, Monsanto and the FDA claim it is a totally safe way to get more milk from Bessie. The kinds of folks who shop at farmers' markets and Whole Paycheck don't want it.

The weird wording on the nutrition portion is because lobbyists have gotten some states to mandate wording like that to make BGH sound natural and normal. The big dairies have even tried to get mention of BGH outlawed on packages in some states.

Is BGH dangerous? I don't know, but I am leery of factory farming...no, I think it is immoral, cruel and leads to inferior food. So, given a choice, I'll go for no BGH.

Cow Picture: The corner of Rt 24 and Belair Road is now the de facto epicenter of Harford County, with Harford Mall and three shopping plazas holding down the corners. The Chili's on the northeast corner has a wonderful memento of bygone days when that property was a farmer's field across from the old fair grounds and race track: it is a picture of the last of the farmer's cows, the last one to graze in the Bel Air town limits. It's a nice touch.

Is Sultana where the Swiss cheese comes from?

I've noticed that statement on milk down here as well. I'm with Lissa, I'll stick with the non-BGH milk.

Lissa's got it.

In a nutshell, dairies that use hormones to increase milk production don't want the hormone free dairies to be able to advertise that they don't use hormones. It costs money to be certified organic but no money to call yourself natural and explain why on the package. They also don't want to lose business when people realize that maybe pumping cows full of hormones to increase milk production isn't the best thing for the cow or the human consumer.

I don't want hormones in my body that don't belong there and if organic dairy products aren't available I'm going to go for the rBST free ones.

I think hormones in milk, beef, chicken, etc are responsible for a high cancer rate in this state. Just my personal theory.

Rob in PCB FL, Sultana is the BROWN Swiss cow, so she gives chocolate milk.

Dottie's remark about chocolate milk reminds me of the time I took a carload of boys for ice cream. We sat outside with our cones on a hot day and were amazed to see a woman deliver an ice cream cone to the dog in her car--chocolate ice cream. "Makes sense," said my son. "It's a chocolate lab."

I would gladly welcome the cow back to Bel Air. If that meant getting rid of the Chili's and the Taco Bell, it would be triple blessing.

*obligatory-wince-at-feeding-chocolate-to-a-dog*

A few years ago, my scary neighbor (don't get me started) got a pit bull puppy... and I was terrified... and then a few weeks later, it was gone. I asked her what happened to her puppy and she said "don't feed chocolate to a dog."

But then later that year a co-worker said his dog (golden retriever) found the hidden halloween candy and ate ALL the chocolate, and that dog was perfectly fine after.

So there is something about chocolate and dogs, but it's not the same for all breeds?

I don't care what the milk carton says as long as my picture is not on it.

LJ - Larger dogs can get away with eating chocolate depending on how much it is. The effects, however, are not pretty.

The smaller and younger the dog, the more likely it is to be fatal.

RoCK, maybe if we wish hard enough, the Chili's and Taco Bell will disappear. I live relatively close to Bel Air and always wish it weren't such a mecca for bad chains.

I don't care what the milk carton says as long as my picture is not on it.....

Not PC but

The Perfect Breakfast....
Reading the morning mail as you eat your cereal..
Your son's picture is on the Wheaties box..
Your daughter's picture is on the cover of Glamour..
Any your exe's picture is on the milk carton..