Milk consumers in the USA are waking up to the fact that most regular pasteurized milk comes from cows that have been given synthetic growth hormones. These hormones are known confusingly under three different names: rBGH, rBST and Posilac. All three names refer to exactly the same thing: synthetic growth hormones that are given to dairy cows to make them produce more milk than they otherwise 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.
This is a matter of concern for many Americans, and consequently some companies such as the coffee chain Starbucks and Wal-Mart are switching to suppliers that provide milk free of synthetic growth hormones.
How does deceptive labelling fit into this?
When milk producers supply milk that is free of synthetic growth hormones, the milk is labelled as being “hormone free”. This is entirely deceptive because no milk can be “hormone free”. All types of dairy milk without exception contain bovine growth hormones known as IGF-1. Many studies show that these IGF-1 hormones can increase the risk of cancer in humans.
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.
Therefore, milk labelled “hormone free” is thoroughly misleading because it is implying the milk has no hormones, and nothing could be further from the truth. Instead of labelling the milk “hormone free” it should be labelled “rBGH free” or “rBST free” or even “free of synthetic growth hormones”.
To summarize, absolutely all kinds of dairy milk contain bovine growth hormones. Additionally, most U.S. milk also contains synthetic growth hormones. It is therefore deceiving and incorrect to label any kind of milk as being “hormone free”.
However, there is one major exception: milk made from plant-based ingredients contains no growth hormones at all. Non-dairy milk made from nuts, seeds, rice, and soybeans is completely free of harmful hormones. Apart from being truly delicious, non-dairy milk is super-nutritious. For a free ebook on how to make great-tasting nut & seed milk please see below.
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