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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.

Some studies show that synthetic growth hormones in milk can increase the risk of cancer in human milk consumers. This is why synthetic growth hormones for cows are banned in most countries (although not in the United States where the synthetic growth hormones are manufactured).

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 causing concern for many American consumers, and as a result some companies such as Wal-Mart and the coffee-chain Starbucks are switching to milk free of synthetic growth hormones.

What about deceptive labelling?

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.

With regard to milk labelling, organic milk producers are the biggest culprits. A major selling point for U.S. organic milk is that it does not have synthetic growth hormones. Organic milk labels invariably state: “hormone, antibiotics and pesticide-free.” But this is wholly misleading because no kind of dairy milk can be hormone free.

To be clear, if milk is labelled “hormone free” it is misleading and deceptive because it is implying that the milk has no growth hormones, and nothing could be further from the truth. Instead of “hormone free” milk could 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.

Tags: Health

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