American milk consumers should take note that just about all regular pasteurized milk comes from cows that have been injected with synthetic growth hormones. These synthetic hormones are known confusingly under three different names: Posilac, rBGH and rBST. But they all refer to exactly the same synthetic growth hormones that are given to cows to make them produce more milk than nature intended.
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).
When you buy regular pasteurized milk in the USA the label says nothing about the milk containing synthetic growth hormones, yet over 95% of all pasteurized milk sold in regular supermarkets and stores contain synthetic growth hormones.
Many American consumers are increasingly concerned about synthetic hormones and as a result some companies (such as Starbucks and Wal-Mart) are changing to milk that is 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”.
All dairy milk without exception then contains harmful bovine growth hormones. On top of this, nearly all American milk also contains harmful synthetic growth hormones. This is why it is no exaggeration to say that it is deceptive 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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