Am I the only one buying plain ole milk??

MrsL1022 · July 2009

Am I the only one that doesn't buy my child organic milk?? We had the regular stuff and I turned out ok....I just don't think it's necessary. Maybe I am wrong. This is awesome first I feed my kid rocket fuel formula then hormone infested milk, can I just win once w/o going bankrupt?

donna&ed · July 2009

We buy regular Kroger Milk because William likes it.

KT&John · July 2009

We buy Publix milk.

maykat · July 2009

We buy Publix skim

ebearwife · July 2009

LOL, Lauren. Rocket fuel formula. Probably there is nothing wrong with Publix milk. Polly doesn't drink enough milk which is why I get her the super-de-duper kind so she gets as much good stuff in her as possible for what little she does consume.

Alison422 · July 2009

I just have this wierd thing about the hormones in dairy and have these crazy thoughts of C getting her period at 8 and in a 36C by the time she hits 7th grade. I just don't want her to grow up faster than she needs to. I know that probably sounds crazy! I devloped very fast (in a bra by 4th grade - and not a training bra - and got my period at 11). So I just want to slow the process down for her if I can.

DzsGirl · July 2009

You aren't alone Lauren!! We buy Publix brand milk. DH say's the extra hormones will make for good football players

myrall · July 2009

My rationale for buying organic is that as long as she's drinking so dang much of the stuff, it might as well be the really good milk. It's the only liquid she ingests most days! She doesn't drink juice or much water.

When she gets a little older, we'll probably move her to the regular Kroger/Publix 2%.

lololoco · July 2009

We have always given kate organic milk bc my BIL who is a pediatrician says that he and many of his collegues have cited studies that have shown hormones in cow's milk and chicken that they use today are what have caused young girls to hit puberty earlier and have larger breasts. While she could probably stand to have some help in the boob dept because the genes arent' really strong there, I'd prefer she go through puberty as late as possible!!!

I get 3 1/2 gallons at Costco for about $9, or a gallon of publix organic for $6.

Kristin125 · July 2009

I buy Jackson organic b/c it's actually cheaper to buy organic Publix soy milk vs. regular Silk soy milk and Publix dosen't have a non-organic store brand soy. (allergic to cow's milk)

However, it is my understanding that Publix milk is now hormone-free. Check the label, but I'm pretty sure many regular, non-organic milks are rbST-free now.

On a side note, Jackson will probably grow boobs too since he drinks so darn much of the soy milk...which apparently is chock full of estrogen. I can't win for loosing...

amanda_holbird@hotmail.com · July 2009

I buy regular Publix milk for my boys.

trinandgabe · July 2009

We buy organic milk at Trader Joe's, which is pretty reasonably priced.

tracigator · July 2009

Right now, milk is the one thing we actually do buy organic for both him and us. Once he switches over to skim milk, I'll probably switch us both back to regular. I just wanted to make sure he was getting as much good stuff as possible when he started drinking milk.

JoelsGirl07 · July 2009

We'll be using regular milk. I drink it now, too...and in mass quantity! We go through about 3 gallons in 2 weeks and there are only 2 of us right now!

soon2b3 · July 2009

Doodle (and I) drink a TON of Milk...we go through 3-4 gallons a WEEK. It's the only thing I consistently buy organic...and yes, it IS expensive :-(

UGAbride · July 2009

I buy Publix milk, and it IS hormone-free, just read the label

We go through about 5 gallons per week between Jack, my husband and myself. Will increase even more when little E starts drinking it in 2 months! John and I drink skim, Jack drinks 2%, and Ethan will be on whole milk.

Sadlebred · July 2009

Sorry, the animal science major in me comes out....

Just because milk isn't "organic" doesn't mean that it isn't hormone free (ie non organic milk can be hormone free). Publix milk is rBST free as are Mayfield and Kroger. rBST is recombinant bovine somatotropin or "growth hormone." I drink Publix and Mayfield.

ALL milk in the US is required by FEDERAL LAW to be free of antibiotics. When a cow is put on antibiotics for an infection, they are isolated from the main herd. They are milked at the end of a shift, and their milk is dumped (thrown away), so that it doesn't enter the supply.

Publix press release: https://tinyurl.com/r8jsy6

Kroger press release: https://tinyurl.com/32k5mh

I found it buried on Mayfield's site in a PDF in their "Press Room" but couldn't get a link.

What is the difference between "Organic" and just "hormone free?"

https://tinyurl.com/luszuq

ebearwife · July 2009

Sadlebred:
Sorry, the animal science major in me comes out....
Just because milk isn't "organic" doesn't mean that it isn't hormone free (ie non organic milk can be hormone free). Publix milk is rBST free as are Mayfield and Kroger. rBST is recombinant bovine somatotropin or "growth hormone." I drink Publix and Mayfield.
ALL milk in the US is required by FEDERAL LAW to be free of antibiotics. When a cow is put on antibiotics for an infection, they are isolated from the main herd. They are milked at the end of a shift, and their milk is dumped (thrown away), so that it doesn't enter the supply.
Publix press release: https://tinyurl.com/r8jsy6
Kroger press release: https://tinyurl.com/32k5mh
I found it buried on Mayfield's site in a PDF in their "Press Room" but couldn't get a link.
What is the difference between "Organic" and just "hormone free?"
https://tinyurl.com/luszuq

My father is married to the sister of a former dairy farmer. Milk is tested ON SITE at the pickup for antibiotics. If the test is performed and the farmers supply (still in the tank on the farm) then it is dumped and the farmer is paid anyway. If somehow the antibiotic makes it to the plant then is tested the entire plant supply is dumped and the farmer at fault (for not testing) is charged for that batch. Antibiotics in milk is serious business. Not sure about the hormone testing.

Sadlebred · July 2009

PS If you want to avoid hormones, I'd buy beef and/or chicken labeled organic AND added hormone free (all meat has some naturally occurring hormones. Afterall, it is the flesh of an animal that naturally produces some hormones). FYI "free range" doesn't mean it doesn't have hormones. That just means the cow/chicken has access to an outside area, even for just 10 minutes a day.

Sadlebred · July 2009

Good point about the onsite testing for antibiotics! I'd forgotten about it. Very true! I feel pretty safe drinking most milks--assuming that it doesn't smell or look funny from being in the fridge for too long.

MLvK · July 2009

This is a good post. ? I was just told by a doctor of mine who is also a nutritionist that if I do nothing else, I should give her organic milk. ?(and also the top 12 list) ? ? ?I am going to ask her about your points, ebear and saddlebred.?

re: the hormones making kids hit puberty earlier. ? I drank regular milk growing up (70's/80's/90's) and I have no outward signs of it. ? ? ? ?

A&JNelson · July 2009

There is a few other reasons I buy organic milk, meat and cage free organic eggs.

Unlike factory cows, organic cows must have access to open air. (Same reason I buy cage free eggs)

Not only is it produced without synthetic hormones its also produced without antibiotics. And there are more conjugated linoleic acids.. which are good fats. The only reason I know about the CLA's are because our PEDI told us about it. Helps prevent diabetes (runs in DH's family).

A&JNelson · July 2009

MLvK:
This is a good post. I was just told by a doctor of mine who is also a nutritionist that if I do nothing else, I should give her organic milk. (and also the top 12 list) I am going to ask her about your points, ebear and saddlebred.
re: the hormones making kids hit puberty earlier. I drank regular milk growing up (70's/80's/90's) and I have no outward signs of it.

And about the puberty early. I am with alison. I was in a "real" bra in 4th grade and period first week of 6th grade... booo

lololoco · July 2009

MLvK:
This is a good post. I was just told by a doctor of mine who is also a nutritionist that if I do nothing else, I should give her organic milk. (and also the top 12 list) I am going to ask her about your points, ebear and saddlebred.
re: the hormones making kids hit puberty earlier. I drank regular milk growing up (70's/80's/90's) and I have no outward signs of it.

Lol, me either Michelle. But I grew up 30+ years ago. Who knows what has changed since then. All I know is that 10 yr old girls look A LOT different than they used to!

Sadlebred · July 2009

A&JNelson:
Unlike factory cows, organic cows must have access to open air. (Same reason I buy cage free eggs)
Not only is it produced without synthetic hormones its also produced without antibiotics. And there are more conjugated linoleic acids.. which are good fats. The only reason I know about the CLA's are because our PEDI told us about it. Helps prevent diabetes (runs in DH's family).

Not to be contridictory, but... Big Smile I've been to dozens of dairy farms in my years (I was an animal science/agriculture major), and all dairy cows I've ever seen have access to "open air." Dairy cows may be kept on feed lots with shelter or a pasture, but they aren't kept cooped up in a barn like chickens--at least that I've ever seen. It isn't practical. Dairy cows are BIG animals. The exception might be if a dairy cow is ill, is being treated by a vet, or is about to give birth. Sometimes they are brought into a barn, so that management of their situation is easier. It's also ILLEGAL under FEDERAL LAW for diary cows on antibiotics to have their milk put on the production line and get into our milk supply. Scroll to ebear's excellent post above for that. Most major milk brands these days do not use synthetic hormones. I'd urge anyone concerned about it to contact the company that makes the milk they buy and ask or buy milk labeled organic.

ANY animal product will have some hormones. We are animals and naturally produce hormones throughout our lives. The same can be said for cows, chickens, pigs, the family dog, etc. All animals produce hormones naturally in order to support life. What people are worried about are synthetic hormones used to increase production and the antibiotics fed to animals to prevent disease (as opposed to treat an animal that is sick). Antibiotics are routinely put into the commercially produced feed of cattle that are on feedlots. This leads to resistant bacteria.

"Cage Free" doesn't mean anything. The term isn't regulated by the federal government. It doesn't mean the same thing as organic. To be labeled organic, foods must meet certain criteria. All cage free means is that the chickens aren't in cages. They could still be in a barn and never seen sunlight. Also, FEDERAL LAW prohibits use of hormones in chicken. All chicken sold in the US is free of added hormones.

Here is a good link that explains what terms are regulated and what arent:

https://tinyurl.com/l8o538

I'm very concerned about food safety for kids and for everyone else. When in doubt, buy organic or check into the company very carefully.

MLvK · July 2009

What organic means in a animal product is that the animal was also on an organic diet, in addition to everything else Sadlebred said.?

MLvK · July 2009

lololoco:
Lol, me either Michelle. But I grew up 30+ years ago. Who knows what has changed since then. All I know is that 10 yr old girls look A LOT different than they used to!?

Good point, Lolo. ? This was the point my doctor was making to me about organic veggies and fruits. ?I made the argument that I grew up w/o organics and I turned out fine. ?She pointed out that 30 years later, the soil has seen a lot of pesticides and fertilizers. ?

And yes, kids do look a lot more grown up these days. ? ?

kep · July 2009

I am late to this (obviously), but 11 isn't early for starting your period, is it? I just asked DH (without saying why I was asking), and he said average age was about 11 ... which is normal, right?

We drink regular ol' Publix milk, BTW.

ETA: OK, I googled it, and apparently the average age is 12 -- but 11 does not seem early to me.

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Am I the only one buying plain ole milk??

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