And Now Costo & Target Organic Milk is NOT Organic at all! ARGH....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am confused. My reasons for buying organic milk are purely health reasons--specifically, I want no antibiotics or growth hormones in the milk. My agenda isn't to support family farms or to make sure cows are treated better than cows giving conventional milk. (Don't get me wrong--I have nothing against those issues, of course, they just aren't my priority when I buy groceries, whereas health is.) So for my purposes, all the brands being excoriated here still are organic enough, correct? That is to say that they use no antibiotics or hormones? Thanks.

Wow, you read my mind. I agree with you completely -- I want it for no hormones or antibiotics, and while I'm not against the other reasons, I'm not entirely in it for that. I wish someone would answer the bolded question above?

Yes. BUT, if you are buying organic milk for "health reasons," you want milk that has higher Omega-3s because that is healthier for you. It balances out Omega-6s, which is found in more processed food. Milk with higher O-3 comes from cows who eat grass. If it is not labeled "grass-fed" the cow probably lives on organic feed of corn and soy. There is higher O-3 in grass/greens than in corn and soy. Some people also want milk from grass-fed cows because they are concerned about getting too much soy.

[Anonymous]

Just a note - dairy cows receiving antibiotics cannot have their milk sold (milk is segregated while treatment is going on). This covers all dairy, not just organic. Beef cattle, of course, can be treated with antibiotics and sold.

[Anonymous]

zumbamama wrote:I have no more faith in the dairy industry. I switched to almond milk.

We don't do a lot of milk and I will likely make the full switch as well, maybe alternating between almond and rice milk.

But what about yogurt? I feel like yogurt, especially Greek yogurt, has a ton of protein and probiotics and you can get the plain kind and mix it with fruit and maybe honey, it's a healthy filling snack. Must I give that up if I buy organic?

[Anonymous]

Oikos is organic greek yogurt (made by Stonyfield)

[Anonymous]

Horizon has organic milk that says it has added Omega 3s. I tend to buy that because I thought the added Omega 3s actually gave it a leg up nutritionally over the Organic Valley (which I was vaguely aware was more pro family farm). So is the extra Omega 3 just making up for the loss in Omega 3s versus better brands? Also, I understand that Organic Valley is family farm produced, but am I understanding correctly that it is not from grass fed cows, so has issues because the cows are fed corn and soy?

So health wise, the grass fed is best, then Organic Valley has a slight edge (nutritionally speaking again only) because they treat their cows more humanely even if they get corn and soy, then last is the regular mass produced corporate brands?


Is there anywhere that you can buy grass fed easily available other than the one brand at whole foods? (which by the way always annoys me because its always 2 days from the expiration date -- not even like 5 or 6 days but 2).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Horizon has organic milk that says it has added Omega 3s. I tend to buy that because I thought the added Omega 3s actually gave it a leg up nutritionally over the Organic Valley (which I was vaguely aware was more pro family farm). So is the extra Omega 3 just making up for the loss in Omega 3s versus better brands? Also, I understand that Organic Valley is family farm produced, but am I understanding correctly that it is not from grass fed cows, so has issues because the cows are fed corn and soy?

So health wise, the grass fed is best, then Organic Valley has a slight edge (nutritionally speaking again only) because they treat their cows more humanely even if they get corn and soy, then last is the regular mass produced corporate brands?


Is there anywhere that you can buy grass fed easily available other than the one brand at whole foods? (which by the way always annoys me because its always 2 days from the expiration date -- not even like 5 or 6 days but 2).

I just checked out Organic Valley's website and it says their cows are pasture fed. So, they don't need to add Omega 3 like Horizon because it's already got a higher content due to the cows eating grass. You could also look at farmer's markets and some CSAs for milk options.

[Anonymous]

There's also Tickling Springs (in glass bottles). Very very pricey though - I think it's like $4.50/half gallon.