Deceptive Milk Labelling is Misleading Americans

by: RussellEaton
Total views: 24 | Word Count: 453

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.

Several studies have shows that synthetic growth hormones in milk can increase the risk of cancer in humans. As a consequence, synthetic growth hormones are banned in most parts of the world (but not in the USA where the hormones where developed).

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.

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 milk labelling come into this?

When milk suppliers provide milk that is said to be free of synthetic growth hormones they are labelling the milk as being "hormone free". This is totally misleading because no milk is "hormone free". All kinds of milk without exception contain bovine growth hormones known as IGF-1. These bovine hormones are known to produce cancer in humans as evidenced by exhaustive research over the years.

Organic milk producers are the biggest culprits. A big selling point for organic milk in the USA is that it does not contain synthetic growth hormones, and organic milk labels typically state: "hormone, antibiotics and pesticide-free." This, of course, is totally deceptive because, as stated, no milk is hormone free.

So if milk is labelled "hormone free" it is not only deceptive but factually incorrect. Such labelling implies the milk has no growth hormones, and this is simply not so. Instead of labelling the milk "hormone free", it could be labelled "rBST free", "rBGH free", "free of artificial growth hormones", or even "free of synthetic growth hormones".

In summary, all dairy milk without exception contains bovine growth hormones. Additionally, most American milk also contains synthetic growth hormones. It is totally 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.