Maine dairy farmers provide Maine consumers with a wholesome and safe product. Not a product as depicted in your Health Capsules this past week.

The information in those capsules does a disservice to local dairy farmers, dairy processors and consumers. Milk undergoes over 19 tests for safety and quality before it reaches consumers. Milk is one of most closely monitored and inspected food in the United States.

Strict quality control and regulatory oversight starts at the farm and continues at processing plants, such as Oakhurst Dairy, Garelick Farms of Maine, H.P. Hood and Houlton Farms. Strict federal and state laws require that milk is produced by cows that are healthy, and dairy farmers recognize that proper animal care is an important part of keeping cows healthy.

Every tank-load of milk is tested for antibiotics. Each processor tests the milk at the farm and again at their plant. Any milk that tests positive is dumped, never reaching consumers in Maine

Dairy processors requested from their farmers a pledge not to inject their dairy cows with rBST. Consequently, any Maine dairy processors’ brand of milk carries that farmers’ pledge.

Inaccurate information can jeopardize health, especially the health of our children. Myths about dairy foods not only are unfounded and irresponsible, but will add to one of our most serious nutritional deficiencies: the “calcium crisis.”

Why frighten consumers unnecessarily when they have access to milk that is highly regulated, safe and wholesome?

Cheryl Beyeler, Augusta