RBST, short for recombinant bovine somatotropin, is a type of artificial growth hormone that increases milk production. It is illegal for use in Canadian dairy cows, but is legal in the USA.
Following a 1990s survey, Health Canada identified that, when using rBST to increase milk production in dairy cows, there was no risk to human health, but there was a risk to animal health. Health Canada then deemed the drug illegal for use in Canada. For more information on rBST, visit the Health Canada website.
More on Canadian Milk Quality
It is mandatory for Alberta’s dairy farmers to be part of the Canadian Quality Milk (CQM) program. CQM is an on-farm food safety program designed to help producers prevent, monitor and reduce food safety risks on their farms, thereby providing extra assurance that Canadian dairy products are safe and wholesome.