GM WATCH COMMENT: Reuters quotes Starbucks spokesman Brandon Borrman as saying, ""This is something that our customers have requested".
http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=domesticNews&storyID=2007-01-16T210012Z_01_N16206246_RTRUKOC_0_US-STARBUCKS-MILK.xml&WTmodLoc=USNewsHome_C2_domesticNews-8

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Starbucks Dropping Controversial Hormone
January 17th 2007 http://www.supermarketnews.com/2007/01/17/starbucks-dropping-controversial-hormone/

SEATTLE - Starbucks Corp. announced yesterday it will begin taking stepsto eliminate artificial growth hormones from the dairy products it serves. Food and Water Watch, a Washington-based environmental watchdog group, had been campaigning to get the company to stop using and selling products that contain the controversial [genetically engineered] hormone rBGH. The dairy products involved include fluid milk, half-and-half, whipped cream and eggnog.

Initially, the changeover will affect the 5,500 company-owned stores in the United States, though some 3,000 franchised locations are also being looked at, according to company officials. Some market areas already have rBGH-free products, including New England and Southern California. The decision follows the recent announcement that Starbucks was eliminating trans fats from its food products.