Organic Dairy Products May Protect You

In 1993, the FDA approved the use of a product called recombinant bovine somatotrophin (rbST) to increase milk production in dairy cows. Should you avoid milk from cows that have been given this hormone?

The authors of “Raising Healthy Children in a Toxic World” are experts in pediatric medicine, and for this reason have an interesting perspective. Here is what they say:

“This additive increases the level of the hormone IGF-1 in milk. A natural and necessary hormone, IGF-1 has also been linked to a number of types of cancer: breast cancer, osteogenic sarcoma (the most common bone cancer in children), colon cancer, and lung cancer. Although research is in its early stages, prudent avoidance indicates that you should avoid serving your children milk and milk products from cows treated with rbST. Instead, buy milk and milk products that are certified organic because organic dairy farmers can’t treat their cows with rbST. If your local grocery store doesn’t stock organic milk, ask them to do so.

Read more: Food, Green Kitchen Tips

Adapted from Raising Healthy Children in a Toxic World, by Philip J. Landrigan, M.D., Herbert L. Needleman, M.D., and Mary Landrigan, M.P.A. Copyright (c) 2001 by Philip J. Landrigan, M.D., Herbert L. Needleman, M.D., and Mary Landrigan, M.P.A.. Reprinted by permission of Rodale Organic Living Books, 2001.
Adapted from Raising Healthy Children in a Toxic World, by Philip J. Landrigan, M.D., Herbert L. Needleman, M.D., and Mary Landrigan, M.P.A. (Rodale Organic Living Books, 2001).

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Duane B.

2:28AM PDT on Mar 31, 2013

Thank you for sharing.

March 31
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Patricia H.

2:03AM PDT on Mar 29, 2013

thanks for sharing

March 29
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Patricia T.

9:25AM PST on Mar 1, 2013

I go every weekend to hamish farms. I'm trying to leave milk but definitely it is not easy. But I will.

March 1
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Nirvana J.

8:21PM PST on Feb 27, 2013

Thanks

February 27
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Larry J.

9:29AM PDT on Sep 29, 2012

If you drink cows milk, it ALL contains similar amounts of IGF-1. It is true that cows treated with rBST have slightly increased levels of IGF-1, but cows not treated with rBST also have higher levels of IGF-1 in their milk early in lactation (just after they have calved) than they do later in lactation. Therefore, when you average out the "average" amount of IGF-1 present in organic vs. milk from cows treated with rBST, their is no significant (albeit a small numerical) difference between organic and "regular" milk. Also, no more than 20% of the cows producing "regular" milk in the US are currently treated with rBST, so that also contributes to the difference in IGF-1 amounts among the organic and non-organic milks being insignificant. So, the bottom line is that if you want to spend twice as much on your milk (and buy organic) then that's your choice, but just know that your getting the same thing (just ultra-pasteurized and transported farther in the case of organic vs. non-organic being "regular" pasteurized and produced more locally), just paying twice as much for it - it's your money...

September 29
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Danuta W.

3:19AM PDT on Aug 28, 2012

August 28
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Mukesh R.

1:58AM PDT on Aug 27, 2012

thanks...

August 27
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devon l.

5:31PM PDT on Jul 25, 2012

Sad to say organic milk is twice as expensive as the ruined milk... Back in the 1950's I grew up with farm fresh local cream top milk. Now all the small family dairy farms are a thing of the past. I'm thankful that many young people today are now returning to natural ways of growing crops and raising animals in a humane way without antibiotics, chemicals and the rest of the poisons that are routinely used today.