Lucerne, rBST Free!

[#1]

Here’s some exciting news, over 100 Lucerne dairy products are now rBST free! Milk has been for some time, and now you’ll find butter, cream cheese, sour cream, cottage cheese, and Greek yogurt too. All made with milk from farmers who pledge not to treat their cows with the artificial growth hormone rBST. And more products to come! While the FDA states that no significant difference has been shown between milk derived from rBST treated cows and milk derived from non-rBST treated cows, I’m just more comfortable with food that hasn’t been meddled with, particularly foods & beverages that my kids eat & drink so often. And, these products still have the same great taste and value that you’ve come to expect from Lucerne – now that gives me greater peace of mind!

[#2]

I find Safeway touting rbST-free dairy campaign as absolutely disturbing.  They are trying to make it sound like their milk does not have hormones or is different from other dairy products which is absolutely not true.  I find this campaign very misleading to consumers.  I will buy my dairy elsewhere.

[#3]

Many of our shoppers have indicated it is important to them to know whether or not their dairy is made from milk sourced from cows treated with rBST. rBST is an artificial growth hormone injected into cows to increase their milk production.   We understand that hormones are naturally occurring in cows, which is why we carefully worded our pledge to read “Milk from cows not treated with the growth hormone rBST”    Any Lucerne product containing the above pledge on the package is made with milk sourced from farmers who pledge not to use the rBST growth hormone on their cows.   Adjacent to this pledge, we also included the FDA statement “The FDA states that no significant difference has been shown between milk derived from rBST treated cows and non RBST treated cows”. Our intent with this labeling is to help our shoppers make more informed choices about their foods. 

[#4]

Roy, Safeway is simply honoring the values and requests of its customers. Customers have been asking for RBST-free milk and dairy for years based on research outside the US that indicates adverse health effects... US is one of the only major countries which approved it for use while ignoring 27 other major countries stance which banned RBST.

[#5]

I would also hope that Safeway addresses its ice cream as well. I, like many others go elsewhere to purchase brands like Crystal which offer rBST-free flavors in both Regular and Lite.

[#6]

Hi Emil,

Our Safeway milk products are all hormone free, whether it is stated on the label or not. Thank you for taking the time to give us your feedback!

~Kate

[#7]

Kate, when you say all our Safeway milk products are rBST free, do you mean that any dairy product bought under the safeway brand lable (Lucern or Dairy Glen) are free from rBST? I want to be sure I'm not being mislead by vague language.

Does this mean that every dairy product, from milk to cheese, sour cream, ice cream, whipping cream, etc. is free of any and all types of artifical growth hormones?

If so why wouldn't they be labled? I know that I personally only buy from the few select brands in our area that specifically say "not made with milk from cows treated with..." For me if it doesn't say it I don't assume it.

[#8]

Gpgal, Safeway milk products are hormone free regardless of what part of the country they are sold, even though it is not stated on the product label. We appreciate your feedback, and will pass along your comments to our Corporate Brands Department for review.


[#9]

Kate-Mom, thank you for getting back to be but I still don't feel like I've been given a complete answer. Do you mean All Dairy Products sold under any of the Safeway brand lables are free from artifical hormones? If not all, could you please point me to a list or provide me with a list of the dairy items that are hormone free.

Thank you. 

[#10]

**UPDATED 12-15-2011** Hi Gpgal, I would like to help clarify on the previous comment I made in response to your question. Any of our products that are made exclusively with milk from cows not treated with any artificial hormones, will state it on the lid or the front of the package. We hope this helps to clarify!

Yes, all of our Safeway brand dairy products are free from artificial hormones. We hope this helps!

[#11]

Hello Kate-Mom.  Based on your last entry, you clarify that all Safeway brand products that are made with milk from cows not reated with artificial hormones will state so on the labels.  Pantry Essentials milk from the San Leandro plant is sold in our area.  Fine print says that it is a Lucerne product but it has NO disclaimer that it is rBST- and/or rBGH-free.  However, the Lucerne branded milk DOES have that disclaimer.  Does that mean that Pantry Essentials is packaging milk from farmers using hormones that Safeway still has existing contracts with?

[#12]

John Tan, we are working to include that statement on all of our labels. In the meantime, we would like to reiterate that all of our milk products come from cows that are not treated with artificial hormones, which includes rBST and rBGH. We hope this clears up the confusion!

[#13]

I wish the Lucerene line of dairy products would contain less stabilizers - like guar gum. I prefer cottage cheese and sour cream that have minimal ingredients. There are national brands like Daisy that are able to produce dairy items that contain just milk, salt and enzymes. I'm not sure what impact those filler shave on the product but the taste of brands that DON"T have those extra ingredients is great so if I am comparing labels I always will prefer less ingredients especialy when the additonal ingredients are ones that I don't know what they do or why they are in the product.

Thank you for providing a forum for comments! I love the Just for you program too.

[#14]

Hi Kate-Mom, this topic may need to be moved to another article, but I wasn't sure which one.  In regard to the Lucerne dairy products, thank you for making clear that those labeled do not have the artificial hormones, and that additional labels are in process for the remainder of Safeway branded dairy products.  On a related topic, can you confirm the nanometer size of the zinc oxide ingredient in the Lucerne Smoothie Dairy Beverage (strawberry, peach, berry, et al.)?  This is a product that I enjoy on a daily basis, and it would be helpful to know if this zinc oxide is a conventional size or if it is more finely ground into such a small size that it would be considered a nano ingredient.  As well, by weight or other measure how much zinc oxide is included in a 10 fluid ounce bottle of the smoothie?  Thank you.  -HappyCow12

[#15]

Hi cheeseplateSF, we appreciate you taking the time to provide us with your feedback. We'll be sure to share your concerns with our Corporate Brands Team for further review and consideration.  Also, we're so glad to hear you are enjoying our just for U program. Please be aware that our Marketing Team will be made aware of your compliments. Have a great day!

[#16]

Hi Kate-Mom, 

I came across this page when researching Lucrene cheese for a school project. I have read all your comments, but I was wondering if you can tell me where I could find more information regarding rBST free Lucrene products. I ask because I haven't found another source claiming all Lucrene cheeses carried at Safeway are rBST free. 

The one I'm looking at specifically is the Lucrene Medium Shredded Cheddar, which does not have a rBST free label. If you could point me in the right direction I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks!

[#17]

Hi A-Swan, while all of our milk products do come from cows that are not treated with artificial hormones, which includes rBST and rBGH, we do not have a website to direct you to for more information on this. However, feel free to contact our Corporate Brands Department directly at 1-888-723-3929 or email Lucerne directly at www.lucernefoods.com via their "Contact Us" link with any questions you may have. We hope this helps!

[#18]

Hi HappyCow12, the zinc oxide isn’t a nano ingredient, rather a conventional or ordinary particle size.  In a 10 fluid ounce bottle 1.5 mg zinc (10% DV). We hope this information is helpful to you!

[#19]

Hi Kate-Mom,

I just became aware of the RBST milk issues a few months ago and have only been buying milk that specifically states RBST-free or hormone free on the label.  I reached for the Pantry Essentials milk today, but couldn't bring myself to believe that, with  the concern so high, the label doesn't specify that the milk is hormone-free.  It is peace of mind that I need.  We live in a liability conscious world, and companies don't put statements on labels if they aren't true, and if they aren't on the label I assume there is a reason.  Please tell the 'higher ups' that many people need to see the label to believe it.  Thank you for Safeway's efforts to bring healthy food to us, it really is appreciated! 

[#20]

We appreciate your feedback, Milkmom. Your concerns will be addressed with our Corporate Brands Team for further review and consideration.

[#21]

Where does Safeway get the milk for Lucerne Foods? What farms are providing the milk (for Arizona stores)?

[#22]

I will not buy any dairy products that at a minimum are not labeled as not being outside the RBST chain. At all.

I would like even higher standards, and pay the difference when available, but that is a minimum.

Why are Pantry Essential and Dairy Glen so much cheaper than Lucerne anyway?

[#23]

Hi NoLabelNoWay, We are in the process of adding an RBST free pledge to our dairy products. We strive to provide the highest quality items at the most competitive prices. We will be sure to inform our Pricing and Corporate Brands Departments of your comments regarding the price difference in our Lucerne, Dairy Glen and Pantry Essentials line. We appreciate your feedback.

[#24]

Hi BrookLyn, we appreciate your inquiry however, we are unable to provide you with the information you are requesting as it is proprietary. Thanks for your interest!

[#25]

Hello Safeway,

I still find it strange that Safeway has not changed their (hard cheese like cheddar) labels to show there are no RBst hormones.

If there isn't the hormone why is it not on your labels?

Abena

[#26]

Abena, we are currently in the process of updating all of our labels to show that our dairy products are rBST-free.

[#27]

Abt 2 years ago we heard you didn't have rbst hormones in your cheese.When will the lables show this on the hard cheese

[#28]

We’re sorry to hear the labels don’t already show this, Abe. We’ll let our Corporate Brands Team know you’d like the hard cheese labels to show we do not use rbst hormones.

[#29]

In some of the replies on this thread, Kate refers to Safeway products as hormone free. There is no such thing as hormone free milk, meat, egg or plant. All living things produce natural hormones & thosehormones are likewise present in their products. The issue with the rBST labeling is that people think products with the rBST free label are hormone free. Not true.  In fact, the dairy industry had to sue to get the labeling to include the fact that rBST free & rBST produced milk are not signicantly different included in the labeling.  While I'm at it, consumers should note that NO milk, meat or eggs contains antibiotics or antibiotic residue. If a farm treats their animals with antibiotics, the farm must keep the animal or it's milk out of the food supply til all of theantibioticgads cleared its system. 

Rc, dairy farm raised Safeway shopper. 

[#30]

Rcwant2be, we apologize for the confusion. Our Lucerne products are free of the rBST hormone and we are working to label all of our products accordingly. Thanks for your feedback!

[#31]

Hi I too came here searching for an answer to whether your Pantry Ess brand contains hormones or not and am thankful Safeway/Vons will be labeling all their other dairy products so consumers can easily verify for RBST. Im hoping Pantry Ess is equal in terms of quality and void of hormones.I dont want anyone, inc my family to have to make a choice if we cannot afford a brand which is more expensive but has no hormones or just better quality on all levels. Since it is a WIC approved item I think it would also be unfair for parents to not have a choice what type of milk they can get for their kids. Im not on WIC but certainly have wondered about this for those on it. I would in addition to milk, like for ALL your dairy prods to offer this info-coffee creamer,cream cheese,all cheeses,yogurt,etc I'm somewhat a newbie in learning about hormones, but would love for all brands,inc Vons, to label this info on all food items. I'm wondering also why some of the new products I'm seeing by Vons (and other brands as well) are labeling items as being "simple",having "less" ingredients than before which causes a consumer like myself to wonder what has been in these products before and it has made me wonder why I haven't had this option from day one. I do fully embrace and appreciate your efforts to make items in a more "simple" way w/few ingredients and will choose these types of items but my other question becomes,why are these items more often than not more expensive than comparable items w/ more ingredients? I apologizr for the barrage of questions,but must find out these answers in the quickest way possible. Thanks! A Vons shopper for 30 yrs plus!

[#32]

CAMomof3, we appreciate your feedback and will certainly forward your comments to our Consumer Brands Department for review. Please note that we strive to offer the highest quality products at the lowest prices. Further, our Pricing Department continually reviews the costs of products to ensure that our prices are fair and competitive. Where necessary, price adjustments are made company wide. We hope this helps!

[#33]

Dairy question:

What's the difference between LUCERNE dairy products and PANTRY ESSENTIALS ?

What kind of feed does PANTRY ESSENTIALS feed them cows ? Do they use GM feed,corn soy ?

I'd shore like to no what they feed them cows ?

[#34]

DD, we comply with all FDA guidelines as they relate to genetically modified ingredients and feed. We do not have a list of what products may contain genetically modified ingredients since this is something that the FDA does not currently require us to label or track. However, we appreciate your feedback and we’ll definitely provide it to our Corporate Brands Team for further review. Have a great day!

[#35]

Hello Kate,

I am seeing many people from many months past inquiring about why the safeway lucerene hard cheese does not say on the lable RBST free.

It looks like tis question has been going on for many many months.

Is there a reason your labels still do not read RBST free??? for your hard cheese?

[#36]

TruthAlways-- all of our block cheese is RBST free.  Thanks for your inquiry!

[#37]

I don't understand why pantry essentials is so much cheaper than the other brands. It makes me suspicious that the quality is not the same. A lot of the food at Safeway carries a type of corn syrup (guar gum, maldextrose, dextrose etc). My son and I are allergic to these products. I like the Safeway organic brand and wish you had more of those products. I do most of my shopping at Trader Joes because a lot of their products are healthier and less ingredients. What is the difference between pantry essentials milk and your organic milk?

[#38]

Pantry Essentials is a Safeway brand product and is made with the same high quality as our other brands. Also, feel free to email us at safewaysocialmedia@safeway.com with your store location and we'll be happy to submit a request to our buyers for a larger organic section.