Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Pinterest Twitter Instagram RSS Facebook
    Buy GO DAIRY FREE and EAT DAIRY FREE today!
    Go Dairy Free
    • Need to Know
      • Newbies Start Here!
      • Take the Challenge!
      • Dairy-Free FAQs
      • Latest News
      • Milk Allergies
      • Lactose Intolerance
      • Other Health Issues
      • Testimonials
      • Calcium Guide
      • Holidays & More
      • Best Books
      • The Community
    • Recipes
      • Recipes by Category
      • Full Recipe Index
      • Gluten-Free Recipe Index
      • Vegan Recipe Index
    • Reviews
      • Dairy Substitutes
        • Butter
        • Cheese
        • Cream
        • Creamer
        • Dessert Toppings
        • Ice Cream
        • Ice Cream Novelties
        • Milk
        • Yogurt
        • More Kitchen Essentials
      • Dairy-Free Sweets & Snacks
        • Protein Shakes
        • More Creamy Beverages
        • Snack & Protein Bars
        • More Snacks
        • Chocolate
        • Cookie Dough
        • Cookies & Brownies
        • Pies & Cakes
        • Pudding & Mousse
        • More Sweet Treats
      • Dairy-Free Meal Makers
        • Baking Mixes
        • Bread Products
        • Breakfast Pastries
        • Cereal & Granola
        • Cheesy Pasta & Rice
        • Frozen Pizza
        • More Entrees
        • Dip and Spreads
        • Salad Dressing
        • Sauces
      • All Product Reviews
        • New Product Reviews!
        • Browse by Product Type
        • Full Review Index
        • Gluten-Free Review Index
        • Vegan Review Index
    • Grocery Guide
      • Alisa’s Dairy-Free Kitchen
      • Brands We Love
      • Dairy Substitutes
      • Dairy Ingredient List
      • Understanding Food Labels
      • No Dairy Product Lists
      • Ordering Specialty Foods
      • Best Grocery Stores
    • Eating Out
      • Fast Food Listings
      • Recommended Restaurants
    • My Books!
      • Go Dairy Free 2nd Edition (best seller!)
      • Eat Dairy Free 1st Edition (full color!)
      • eBooks & Printables
      • Book Supplements & Resources
    • About Us
      • Meet Us
      • Contact Us
      • Join Us
      • Work With Us
    Go Dairy Free
    You are at:Home»News»In The News»Hormones and Milk: What You Should Know

    Hormones and Milk: What You Should Know

    2
    By Alisa Fleming on January 27, 2007 In The News

    Recent hype regarding Starbuck’s transition over to rBGH-free milk has Monsanto, the maker of the synthetic hormone Posilac bovine somatotropin (bST), on the defense.   To prove the safety of their product, Monsanto funded a third-party research group who randomly selected 213 packages of milk from grocers’ shelves and proceeded to test their hormone, antibiotic, and nutrient levels.

    Though their results showed no difference in the milks, many in the scientific community have written the study off as irrelevant.  It seems that none of the milks were confirmed as coming from cows treated with Posilac.  So what should we know about synthetic hormones in our milk supply?

    The excerpt below offers an easy to read explanation of hormones and antibiotics in the milk industry and their impact.  It comes directly from the new guide book “Dairy Free Made Easy: Thousands of Foods, Hundreds of Recipes, and Dozens of Tips for Dairy Free Living.”  The author, Alisa Fleming, goes beyond the usual ‘what to eat’ lists with important information on understanding milk.  From nutrients to processing, Fleming wants to ensure that individuals know what they may and may not be missing when choosing a dairy-free diet:

    “Organic milk is still cow’s milk.  It contains all of the same proteins (i.e. casein), fats (i.e. saturated), sugars (i.e. lactose), and cholesterol that may be a problem for allergies, intolerances, special diets, and general health.  However, for those who can and do consume even small amounts of dairy, organic milk appears to be well worth the extra cost.

    Milk repeatedly makes the top ten lists for foods you should buy organic.  Why?  Beyond the many social implications and dangerous pesticides, U.S. Organic Milk is also guaranteed free of antibiotics and hormones.  Are hormones and antibiotics in the foods supply a true concern, or has the issue been stretched a bit too far by organic farmers and anti-milk campaigners?

    I was curious to know, so I pooled together hard (unbiased) facts as evidenced by regulations and scientific studies.  Whether you would like to include some dairy products in your diet, or you could use another reason to go dairy-free, the following offers some important information on hormones and antibiotics in the dairy industry that you may find interesting:

    Why dairy farmers use synthetic hormones…

    • Bovine Growth Hormone, or BGH, is a naturally occurring hormone in cows that stimulates the production of another hormone, IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor-1). IGF-1 in turn initiates the production of milk.
    • The FDA approved the use of rBGH, a synthetic version of BGH, in 1993. The injection of rBGH into cows has become standard practice on many dairy farms, as it has the ability to unnaturally increase a cow’s output of milk by up to 20% (according to the rBGH manufacturer).  Higher production per cow means a better bottom line for the dairy farmer.

    The effect of synthetic hormone use on humans…

    • Cows treated with rBGH produce greater levels of IGF-1. In fact, numerous studies have confirmed that cows treated with rBGH produce milk with 2 to 10 times the levels of IGF-1 found in an untreated cow’s milk.
    • The IGF-1 found in cows is a bio-identical hormone to the IGF-1 produced by humans.
    • Dairy supporters argue that the IGF-1 in milk is not absorbed into the body; however, the consumption of cow’s milk has been scientifically shown to increase the serum level of IGF-1 in humans by 10%. In contradiction of their prior claims, the Dairy Council has even utilized a study confirming this increase in IGF-1 as a supporting document for bone health.
    • Higher levels of IGF-1 in humans have been linked to a significantly increased risk of Prostate, Colon, Lung and Breast Cancer.

    Other consequences of hormone use…

    • Cows treated with rBGH were found to have a 25% increased risk of acquiring an udder infection (mastitis). Other major side effects (as noted by the manufacturer of rBGH) include infertility, lameness, cystic ovaries, uterine disorders, digestive disorders, lacerations, and calluses of the knee.

    Cue the antibiotics…

    • An increase in infections results in an increase of antibiotic use, both legal and illegal.
    • Antibiotic residues in milk may cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals, and may be an important factor in the growth of antibiotic resistant bacteria.
    • Testing for antibiotics is limited in its effectiveness. Mandatory screenings by milk processors are only for a few select antibiotics (while dozens of types are in use). Additional testing is randomized and on more of an “audit” level.
    • Even for those batches, which pass inspection, low levels of antibiotic residues are typically permitted. The effects of these low levels, in addition to the potential antibiotic levels of untested milk, is largely unknown, but greatly feared.
    • In 2001, 6.7 million pounds of milk were dumped in Minnesota alone due to the detection of antibiotic residue. This was just from the 10% of loads randomly inspected on a quarterly review. One might either be shocked by the idea of how much “tainted” milk must have gone untested and continued on into our milk supply, or by the incredible amount of waste.

    The 15 member countries of the European Union have banned the use of rBGH, as have Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. They have deemed rBGH as unsafe from both public health and veterinary perspectives. In 1999, Codex Alimentarius (the United Nations’ food safety organization), ruled in favor of the European moratorium on hormone treated milk products. So why on earth did the FDA approve rBGH, and why are dairy farmers in the United States, Mexico, and South Africa still routinely administering it? We as consumers are still waiting for an answer.

    Since the effects of the hormones in untreated cows are not fully understood either, some may opt for a non-dairy lifestyle.  Those who do consume conventional milk should use caution; dairy manufacturers within the United States are not currently required to disclose the use of rBGH on their labeling.   In the end, it may be wise to reach for organic milk or at the very least those products specified as rBGH-free.  Be aware though, that these milks are still subject to homogenization and pasteurization [as explained in a prior chapter].”

    For more information on milk, and living without it, Dairy Free Made Easy is available directly from Amazon.

     

    References:

    1. “Dietary Changes Favorably Affect Bone Remodeling in Older Adults”; Journal of the American Dietetic Association 1999;99:1228–1233.
    2. “Insulin-like growth factors 1 and 2 in bovine colostrum. Sequences and biological activities compared with those of a potent truncated form.”; Biochem J. 1988 Apr 1;251(1):95-103 www.pubmed.org
    3. An rBGH Overview; Vermont’s Voice (a consumer advocacy organization).
    4. “Milk and the Cancer Connection” by Hans R. Larsen, MSc ChE; International Health News Issue 76, April 1998; Definition, BGH
    5. “MDA’s role in preventing antibiotic resistance” Minnesota Department of Agriculture
    Alisa Fleming
    • Website

    Alisa is the founder of GoDairyFree.org, Food Editor for Allergic Living magazine, and author of the best-selling dairy-free book, Go Dairy Free: The Guide and Cookbook for Milk Allergies, Lactose Intolerance, and Casein-Free Living, and the new cookbook, Eat Dairy Free: Your Essential Cookbook for Everyday Meals, Snacks, and Sweets. Alisa is also a professional recipe creator and product ambassador for the natural food industry.

    Related Posts

    New Enjoy Life Cookies! Birthday Cake, Monster, Sunseed Butter Chocolate Chip, and seasonal Strawberry Lemonade - all dairy-free, egg-free, gluten-free, nut-free, peanut-free, soy-free, sesame-free, and vegan!

    Enjoy Life Celebrates Three New Allergy-Friendly Cookie Varieties

    Milk Allergy is a Leading Cause of Anaphylaxis, Food Allergy-Induced Fatalities, and Awareness

    Milk Allergy is a Leading Cause of Anaphylaxis, and Awareness

    Over 120 Top 8-Free Recipes and Resources for Food Allergy Awareness

    Food Allergy Awareness Week: Over 120 Recipes and Resources

    2 Comments

    1. Michelle Janko on July 2, 2018 9:08 am

      Does lactose free mean hormone free? Or is it only hormone free if it’s organic?

      Reply
      • Alisa Fleming on July 2, 2018 11:32 am

        Lactose free does not mean that it is anything but lactose free (the milk sugar has been removed). No type of dairy milk will be hormone free (they all contain naturally occurring hormones). But organic milk or milk labeled as rbst/rbgh-free should be produced without those added synthetic hormones.

        Reply

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    Go Dairy Free Recipes, Reviews and News to Your Inbox!

    Go Dairy Free - The Guide and Cookbook for Milk Allergies, Lactose Intolerance and Casein-Free Living Fames Dairy Free Chocolate
    Vegan Lemon Bars Recipe (also Gluten-Free, Nut-Free, and Soy-Free)

    Vegan Lemon Bars with No Dairy, Eggs, Gluten, Nuts, or Soy!

    Dairy-Free White Chocolate Cookies Recipe - better than Tollhouse! Deliciously soft, tender, and slightly chewy.

    White Chocolate Macadamia Cookies made Deliciously Dairy Free

    Country Crock Plant Cream Reviews and Info - Dairy-Free Heavy Cream Alternative, vegan and gluten-free too

    Country Crock Plant Cream does the Heavy Lifting in Sauces and Whip

    Enjoy Life Foods Eat dairy free book
    Go Dairy Free is the leading website for information on the dairy-free diet. We share dairy-free recipes, product reviews, news, recommendations and health guides to aide those with milk allergies, lactose intolerance or a general need or desire to live without dairy. Dairy-free does include milk-free, lactose-free, casein-free and whey-free, too! We also offer ample resources for gluten-free, soy-free, food allergy, vegan and paleo diets. Please note that ingredients, processes and products are subject to change by a manufacturer at any time. All foods and products should be considered at risk for cross-contamination with milk and other allergens. Always contact the manufacturer prior to consumption. Disclaimer - All Rights Reserved - Privacy Policy Go Dairy Free © 2005-2022 Fleming Marrs Inc.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.