Quarrels persist over BST safety

Further doubts have been cast over the safety of the growth hormone bovine somatotropin (BST) in the wake of findings announced by two separate European Union (EU) scientific committees.
The EU Scientific Committee on Animal Health and Welfare has concluded that BST substantially in- creases foot problems, mastitis and injection site reactions in cattle, and can also cause reproductive disorders.
Meanwhile, the EU Committee on Veterinary Measures relating to Public Health said that risks associated with the use of BST include an increase of insulin growth factor levels (IGF-I) in milk which could lead to breast and prostate cancer and intestinal problems in human beings.
Both reports were initiated as part of a review of Europes ten year morator-ium on the use of BST, due to expire at the end of 1999.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), however, stands by its 1993 decision to approve the use of Monsantos product.
Recently the FDA reviewed studies said to show that the level of IGF-I causes neither breast or prostate cancer. This conclusion is backed up by a Canadian panel on the human safety implications of the product. Nevertheless, in January this year, Health Canada announced that it would not approve the drug for sale based on animal health concerns.