June 30, 2008
Kimberly Leistinger
Cone
855 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 02116
Dear Kimberly,
This is a difficult letter to write since I am going to ask you to remove my name from the list of Yoplait Champions. I have just returned from the meeting Era of Hope sponsored by the Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program. At that meeting I heard some discussions that reminded me of Bovine Growth hormones and some of the health issues that were raised when it was introduced in the early 1990’s.
I was and remain one of the environmentally-concerned advocates who protested the (particularly unlabeled) use of rBGH for cows. Now I am aware that Yoplait yogurt is made with milk from cows treated with this substance, I am very concerned about the implications for women. This substance is banned in Japan, Canada, parts of the European Union, Australia and New Zealand.
Some scientific studies have indicated a higher risk of breast cancer for women who drink the milk or eat the milk product of cows given rBGH. In fact when I searched pubmed.gov, there were 85 studies related to this topic. And I believe that evidence often exists that has not yet been teased out – most studies, especially those funded by industry, are too short to discover true effects.
In recent years various American retailers have stated that they will no longer sell or use milk products from cows fed rBGH – including Walmart, Kraft, and Starbucks. So I hope this letter and my resignation as a Yoplait Champion will be seen as a constructive means for General Mills to make a similar decision. If the company goes forward with products from cows that are rBGH-free, that will be a tremendous advantage to the US population. As a country we have a VERY high incidence of breast and other hormonally-driven cancers, as well as diabetes and heart disease. The ‘Western’ diet has been blamed and rBGH, in my opinion, is a contributing factor. Additionally as a health advocate, I suggest you reconsider the use of high-fructose corn syrup, which also has negative health implications.
I understand that a large company has difficulty in changing its methods, beliefs and its style, but I urge reconsideration of organic ingredients in a world where diet-related disease is continually on the rise.
I truly appreciate the honor of being chosen from among so many well-qualified candidates nationwide. I am sorry that I had this very late epiphany about the health risks of the products General Mills sells. I would like to send the $1000 donation back to you. Please advise how best this should be done.
Sincerely,
Ann E. Fonfa
President
The Annie Appleseed Project
General Mills Inc.
PO Box 9452
Minneapolis, MN 55440
Kendall J. Powell
Chairman of the Board,
and Chief Executive Officer
Y. Marc Belton
Executive Vice President,
Worldwide Health, Brand and
New Business Development
Maria S. Morgan
Vice President;
President, Foodservice
