Source: CCTV.com

01-19-2007 10:51

Starbucks China says that the raw materials of the milk product it uses in China are all from local suppliers, and contain no harmful ingredients. However, China experts say there is still possibility that the bovine growth hormone, also known as rBGH, has entered China's dairy market.

Starbucks, the world's largest specialty coffee retailer has dropped dairy products containing an artificial hormone at coffee-houses in the West New England and is to phase such products out of all stores in the United States.

The change doesn't much affect the Starbucks stores in China. The company said it is for certain that the milk used are supplied by local dairy producers, and contains no rBGH.

However, a Chinese dairy expert says, as early as half a year ago, there were foreign agencies promoting the use of hormone in China. Hence he cannot assure that those hormone doesn't contain rBGH.

Gu Jiasheng, deputy secretary-general of Shanghai Dairy Association: "I cannot say for certain there is no rBGH in China. Because I haven't seen any research report so far, and there hasn't been any institution studying. So I cannot be absolutely sure. However, I don't think the problem is severe in China."

Experts say, because rBGH is expensive, it is not widely accepted by cattle breeders in China. Starbucks' costs won't increase a lot in the United States, where the hormone is widely used.

 

Editor:Li Yang