California Dairies, the Central Valley co-op that produces almost half the milk drunk by Californians, is dropping the use of a synthetic bovine growth hormone that increases milk production. The phase-out is expected to be complete by Aug. 1.

The co-op says its biggest customers, including Safeway and Vons, don't want it in the cows despite evidence that the rBST hormone does not harm humans, the Los Angeles Times reported.

About 20 percent of the co-op's 680 dairies use the hormone, the report said. It can increase how much milk a heifer produces daily by 5 to 15 percent.

Source: ScienceDaily