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Activists Decry "Hypocritical" Pink Products

Posted: 10:35 am PDT October 31, 2008Updated: 7:29 am PST November 10, 2008

A group of Bay Area breast cancer activists want you to "Think Before You Pink."

The popular pink ribbon campaign has raised millions of dollars for breast cancer research. But, according to Barbara Brenner the Executive Director of Breast Cancer Action, there is "some hypocrisy."

Brenner, a breast cancer survivor, is demanding a higher standard from manufacturers who hope to boost sales with pink-themed packaging and "pink" campaigns. She says the "pink promise" is not just about donating money, but also about selling good products.

This year Brenner is highlighting Yoplait yogurt, which has a pink top on its product this month. Manufacturer General Mills says the company will donate 10 cents to Susan G. Komen for the Cure for each top mailed in.

Brenner says the company uses source milk that contains bovine growth hormone or rBGH. There is some evidence rBGH may increase the risk of human breast cancer, by increasing another protein called insulin growth factor or IGF-1 which has been linked to denser breasts.

"We don't want people to boycott Yoplait," says Brenner, "just ask the company to stop using growth hormone."

"This is a distraction from the real issue," says Marina Sousa, chairwoman of the San Francisco chapter of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. "Yoplait has been a supporter of breast cancer research for 19 years." General Mills promises to donate $1.5 million this year.

"Most of our source milk is free of (hormones)" says a spokesman for Yoplait, "and the FDA has declared growth hormone safe in milk products."

In past years, Brenner's "Pinkwashing" campaign has encouraged cosmetic companies to reformulate products, a vacuum cleaner company and credit card company to stop what she called misleading pink-ribbon campaigns, and is pressuring BMW to decrease air pollution from its vehicles.

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