When considering milk and hormones, it's crucial to understand that no milk, whether conventional or organic, has hormones added to it. The primary concern for consumers often revolves around the use of bovine growth hormones (BGH), a synthetic hormone given to cows to increase milk production.
Understanding Hormones in Milk
Milk, like all natural food products derived from living organisms, contains naturally occurring hormones. These are intrinsic to the milk and are not typically a concern for consumers. The focus, instead, is on synthetic or artificial hormones that might be administered to dairy cows.
Natural vs. Added Hormones
- Natural Hormones: All milk contains naturally occurring hormones (e.g., progesterone, estrogen, prolactin) as it is a biological product from a mammal. These are inherent and cannot be removed.
- Added Hormones: There are never any hormones added directly to milk during processing, regardless of whether it's conventional or organic. This is a common misconception.
The Role of Bovine Growth Hormones (BGH/rBST)
Bovine Growth Hormone (BGH), also known as recombinant Bovine Somatotropin (rBST), is a synthetic hormone that some conventional dairy farmers may use to increase milk production in their cows. This is where the distinction between conventional and organic milk becomes relevant to consumer concerns about hormones.
Types of Milk and Hormone Content
The key difference among milk types, concerning hormones, lies in the practices of the dairy farms where the milk originates, specifically regarding the treatment of cows with synthetic growth hormones.
Conventional Milk
Conventional milk comes from dairy farms that may or may not use synthetic bovine growth hormones (like rBST/rBGH) on their cows. While these hormones are not added to the milk itself, they are administered to the cows, which then produce milk.
Organic Milk
For those specifically concerned about synthetic bovine growth hormones, USDA organic milk is the definitive choice. USDA organic standards prohibit organic dairy farmers from treating their cows with any bovine growth hormones. This means that cows producing organic milk are not given synthetic growth hormones.
| Milk Type | Hormones Added to Milk? | Cows Treated with Synthetic Bovine Growth Hormones (BGH)? |
|---|---|---|
| Conventional | No | May be treated |
| Organic (USDA) | No | Not treated |
Why Choose Organic Milk?
If your primary concern is to avoid milk from cows treated with synthetic bovine growth hormones, choosing USDA certified organic milk is the solution. Beyond the hormone aspect, USDA organic standards also include other practices that many consumers value, such as:
- Cows must have access to pasture.
- Prohibition of antibiotics and GMOs in feed.
- Emphasis on animal welfare and environmental stewardship.
Key Takeaways
- No milk has hormones added to it. This applies to both conventional and organic milk.
- If your concern is about milk from cows treated with synthetic bovine growth hormones, then USDA organic milk is the answer, as organic standards prohibit this practice.
- All milk naturally contains some hormones because it is a biological product.
