Reprinted Articles

Milk consumers in the United States should note that most regular pasteurized milk comes from cows that have been given synthetic growth hormones, known confusingly under three different names: rBST, rBGH, and Posilac. They all refer to exactly the same thing: synthetic growth hormones that are injected into cows to make them produce more milk than they normally would.

Research shows that synthetic growth hormones in milk can increase the risk of cancer in milk consumers. As a result, synthetic growth hormones for cows is banned in many countries (but not in the United States where the hormones are made).

The labels on regular pasteurized milk in the USA say nothing about the milk containing synthetic growth hormones. Yet over 95% of all pasteurized milk sold in the USA contain these growth hormones.

Many American consumers are increasingly concerned about synthetic hormones and as a result some companies (such as Starbucks and Wal-Mart) are changing to milk that is free of synthetic growth hormones.

What about deceptive labelling?

When milk suppliers provide milk that is said to be free of synthetic growth hormones they are labelling the milk as being “hormone free”. This is totally misleading because no milk is “hormone free”. All kinds of milk without exception contain bovine growth hormones known as IGF-1. These bovine hormones are known to produce cancer in humans as evidenced by exhaustive research over the years.

Organic milk producers are the biggest culprits when it comes to milk labelling. This is because a big selling point for organic milk in the USA is that it does not contain synthetic growth hormones. Organic milk labels typically state: “hormone, antibiotics and pesticide-free.” This is totally misleading because, as stated, no milk is hormone free.

So if milk is labelled “hormone free” it is not only deceptive but factually incorrect. Such labelling implies the milk has no growth hormones, and this is simply not so. Instead of labelling the milk “hormone free”, it could be labelled “rBST free”, “rBGH free”, “free of artificial growth hormones”, or even “free of synthetic growth hormones”.

In summary, all dairy milk without exception contains bovine growth hormones. Additionally, most American milk also contains synthetic growth hormones. It is totally deceptive to label any kind of milk as being “hormone free”.

But there is one big exception: plant-based milk contains no harmful hormones. Non-dairy milk made from nuts, seeds, rice, and soybeans is completely free of harmful hormones. Best of all, non-dairy milk is absolutely delicious and super-nutritious. For a free ebook on how to make fabulous nut & seed milk please see below.

Last 5 posts by Russell Eaton

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• Why Lactose-Free Milk Should Always Be Avoided - April 1st, 2008

Tags: Health