feb 05 
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Got Milk? How About Local Organic Milk?
A milky moustache may not be all that lingers when your child swallows a glass of milk. Some chemicals hidden in milk are not so cute. Milk lodges chemicals like PCBs, dioxins and DDE (a breakdown of the insecticide DDT) in its fat. Even though the U.S. banned many of these chemicals in the 1970s, they still linger in the soil, and today's cows munch up toxins through their food and pass it on to humans. On top of that, conventional dairy farming adds new chemicals: insecticides and the bovine growth hormone rbGH. Milk is a vital part of young children's diets, but childhood doubles as a sensitive growth period for the brain, reproductive and immune systems. When toxins enter the picture, kids face a higher risk of cancer, thyroid and reproductive troubles as well as permanent IQ damage. What milk is safe for kids? Conventional milk comes with the highest toxic load. "If you can find local, organic milk, that's the best," says Dr. Gina Solomon, a scientist with NRDC's health program. Avoid bovine growth hormone (rbGH). The hormone boosts milk production, but brings a high cost to both cattle and public health. Cows "burn out" from excess milk production and with shorter lives and more disease, dairy cows get more antibiotics. The Center for Disease Control rates overuse of antibiotics as a significant public health problem since bacteria develop resistance to antibiotics. "Bovine growth hormone is definitely the worst one," says Chuck Benbrook, Chief Scientist at The Organic Center. The human impact of rbGH is uncertain, but scientists know that growth hormones can upset sperm counts and may be linked to breast cancer. Ideally, buy organic milk for kids and pregnant mothers. Organic dairies don't use growth hormones or antibiotics on animals, and organic milk is free from extra insecticide residue. At a minimum, avoid rbGH milk. This growth hormone is banned in Europe, and several major U.S. brands now offer "rbGH-free" milk. Choose low-fat milk for kids over age two. Toxins accumulate in milk fat, so buying skim or 1% milk lowers the chemical dose. Even organic milk can't avoid the chemical legacy of DDE, PCBs and dioxins -- for the next 50 years or more. The healthiest choice of all is local milk from grass-fed cows. Small dairies tend to be organic or follow organic practices. They're also big winners for the environment since they avoid crowded feed lots, manure lagoons and long-distance shipping. Cows on conventional or mega-organic farms eat lots of grain and corn, not a natural diet. Grazing boosts nutrition in milk by increasing key fatty acids. Omega-3 aids vision and reduces blood clots and inflammation, while CLA (Conjugated Linoleic Acid) helps prevent tumors, obesity and viral infections. Kids and the elderly especially need these to keep healthy. Grab a glass of organic, local milk and taste the difference!
1. 02/08/2008 12:42:11 PM since last summer, i've become a vegetarian, and i LOVE soy milk...i've always been an animal-luvin' person, and because of some of the heinous videos i've seen about the treatment of God's animals, this has been an easy transition for me!!...i wish there was a way we could stop this inhumane treatment of God's creatures...organic rules!!... 2. 03/21/2008 09:40:00 AM I spoke to my child's daycare center about switching to organic milk. They told me that they cannot afford to make the switch to organic. Would you happen to have any recommendations about cost-effective ways that the daycare might be able to afford such a change? 3. 04/12/2008 06:37:06 AM Just an idea for the daycare getting organic milk. Why not create a year-round fundraiser to substitute the additional cost for organic milk. A friend of mine just said, "it may cost more now, but you only have one body for the long run." Definitely worth the effort to get those kids organic milk. Good Luck to you! 4. 09/19/2008 09:13:42 PM As a dairy farmer with 30 cows, I do disagree with this article and also to the first comment regarding the treatment of animals. I love the idea of supporting local family farms (did you know over 95% of America's farms are family farms). However, I do not believe that organic milk is better than conventional milk. First, if you are buying local, you should know the farm you are buying from. I believe knowing whre your milk came from is more important than buying organic (how good is it for the environment if its transported 3000 miles). There are instances when pesticides and rbst are good for the environment. For example, rbst improves milk production, which means less cows are required to produce the same amount of milk. Also, using pesticides, farmers can utilize no tillage resulting in less erosion. No tillage allows for matter to build up in the soil, not interupt earth worm activity, and reduces compaction. Regarding the above comment, a large percetnage of farmers respect and treat their animals humanely (some may say better than their own children). If a cow is not comfortable or abused, it will not produce. A farm cannot stay in business if their cows aren't producing; therefore, animal welfare is part of a farmer's duty---they ensure their animals are well cared for. Also, soy "milk" (why it is labeled as milk is beyond my understanding) is estrogenic and can cause multiple hormonal problems...google it and you'll find many. 5. 10/08/2008 04:54:10 PM Well local is always better... 6. 10/15/2008 02:31:52 PM I read somewhere that vitamin D added to all milk is lanolin based,I buy organic milk with vitamin D added.I am a vegetarian and would like to make sure that the milk we drink does not have any non-dairy animal products? How do I get more info? New Comment 
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