Deceptive Milk Labelling is Misleading Americans

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.

Research shows that synthetic growth hormones in milk can increase the risk of cancer in milk consumers. As a result, synthetic growth hormones for cows is banned in many countries (but not in the United States where the hormones are made).

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.

This is a matter of concern for many Americans, and consequently some companies such as the coffee chain Starbucks and Wal-Mart are switching to suppliers that provide milk free of synthetic growth hormones.

What about deceptive labelling?

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”.

There is, however, one big exception: plant-based milks contain no harmful hormones. Non-dairy milk made from seeds, nuts, soybeans or rice is totally free of harmful hormones. Such milk is super-nutritious and truly delicious. See below for a totally free ebook on how to make wonderful nut & seed milk.