Deceptive Milk Labelling is Misleading Americans

Milk consumers in the United States should note that most regular pasteurized milk comes from cows that have been given synthetic growth hormones, known confusingly under three different names: rBST, rBGH, and Posilac. They all refer to exactly the same thing: synthetic growth hormones that are injected into cows to make them produce more milk than they normally 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).

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.

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.

With regard to milk labelling, organic milk producers are the biggest culprits. A major selling point for U.S. organic milk is that it does not have synthetic growth hormones. Organic milk labels invariably state: “hormone, antibiotics and pesticide-free.” But this is wholly misleading because no kind of dairy milk can be hormone free.

To be clear, if milk is labelled “hormone free” it is misleading and deceptive because it is implying that the milk has no growth hormones, and nothing could be further from the truth. Instead of “hormone free” milk could be labelled “rBGH free” or “rBST free” 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.