I would not drink or eat anything with bovine growth hormone in it and milk that is not organic contains it. Bovine Growth hormone is legal and approved by the FDA but it's also illegal in some European countries, so I like to err on the side of caution and not consume it or give it to my child.

rBGH is just one treatment.

Anonymous wrote:I have 3 friends recently diagnosed with pcos. All three separate drs mentioned it could be from growth hormones in meat and dairy from a young age.

Your friends must be really young. rBGH for dairy cows wasn't in use before the mid 90s.

If you think that organic milk is better, switch. Just as I would advise a 75 year old to quit smoking (and she did).

There is no need at all to switch, OP. I will not argue whether or not the growth hormones are harmful or not since that's beside the point now. As others noted, the VAST majority of milk available currently is from companies whose farmers have pledged not to use growth hormones. That's the same thing organic farmers do too - it's not as if USDA tests the milk - there is no test for the use of the growth hormones. I can't recall the last time I saw normal milk - even grocery store label - that is not labled as coming from cows not given growth hormones.

Of course switching now is beneficial--when we were kids, there was no organic milk at the grocery store, but obviously many of us made the switch. I definitely recommend the Cornucopia website above. For me, organic milk is more about treatment of animals, and while it IS more expensive, even double or triple the cost of non-organic milk, we're talking, what $4-5? IMO, it's well worth it.

I would definitely recommend switching now! It's not too late at all. Plus, you'll love the improved taste.

As an aside, this is a great website to choose what brands to try:

http://www.cornucopia.org/dairysurvey/index.html

Maybe get your DH to watch Food, Inc? Not necessarily focused on dairy, but it might wake him up to what goes on with our food supply.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are many non-organic milks that do not contain the hormones. Check the labels. Whole Foods house brand (non organic) is hormone free.

Yup, this. We buy non-organic with no growth hormones. Even CVS sells no growth hormone milk now.

They can say it and you can trust it. But, without the USDA standards you don't know for sure. I buy non organic produce from a local farmer that says they are pesticide free, but it is unregulated. dairy is one of the highest recommended foods to buy organic because of the hormones given to the dairy cows. I don't mess with that one, unless I absolutely know the source and their practices.

Anonymous wrote:There are many non-organic milks that do not contain the hormones. Check the labels. Whole Foods house brand (non organic) is hormone free.

Yup, this. We buy non-organic with no growth hormones. Even CVS sells no growth hormone milk now.

There are many non-organic milks that do not contain the hormones. Check the labels. Whole Foods house brand (non organic) is hormone free.

I have 3 friends recently diagnosed with pcos. All three separate drs mentioned it could be from growth hormones in meat and dairy from a young age.

Why do you need to convince him? Because it is a little more expensive? Google it - there is tons of research. Read "the omnivores dilemma."

OP here - thanks. But that will not convince my DH that we should switch. I need some actual evidence or science.

It is never too late. I am 40 and I only drink and eat organic dairy.

DD is 6 1/2 and loves milk - drinks lots of it and always has. We've always bought regular milk at the grocery store. I now understand that organic milk is free of growth hormones that may contribute to early puberty, etc. My question is whether switching her to organic milk now would make any kind of difference or has the potential "damage" already been done? Has anyone researched this topic and can point me to some resources? tia.