Cheesemaker Nuestro Queso to switch to rBST-free milk

Nuestro Queso, a Rosemont, Ill.-based co-packer and manufacturer of premium Hispanic dairy products for retailers' store brand programs, said it will now use only rBST-free milk in the making of its cheeses, creams and drinkable yogurts. The company is now working exclusively with dairy farmers that do not use rBST hormones, an artificial growth stimulant for cows.

“Our decision to use only rBST free milk in our products reinforces our commitment to provide our customers with only the highest-quality and freshest cheeses, creams and yogurts,” said Mark Braun, CEO, Nuestro Queso.

The decision was made after Nuestro Queso assessed feedback from its loyal Hispanic customers, who identified rBST-free milk as one of their biggest preferences among their dairy product selections, Braun said. rBST, or recombinant bovine somatotropin, is a genetically engineered artificial growth hormone used to make cows produce more milk. Because rBST can lead to infections in cows, the use of rBST often results in increased use of antibiotics to fight the infections. Although the FDA has found no risks associated with rBST, many customers are concerned about the long-term health consequences of artificial hormones in dairy products. Therefore, many dairy farms have begun eliminating rBST in their practices.