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Dr. Mercola

April 04, 2007
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The Deception Behind "Organic" Milk

There has been a continuing erosion of organic standards since large corporations started struggling for a share of the market. According to this recent NewsTarget interview with Ronnie Cummins of the Organic Consumers Association, the standards for organic milk have been particularly compromised.

Horizon Organic, the company that supplies Wal-Mart, has continually ignored federal organic standards -- specifically, a cow's access to pasture.

Their "organic" milk actually comes from factory-style dairy farms where the animals are kept in intensive confinement and have been imported from conventional farms as calves.

In fact, the problem has gotten so out of hand that the Organic Consumers Association has called for a consumer boycott on Horizon and its partner Aurora Organic, its first for an "organic" product.

NewsTarget.com April 2, 2007


Dr. Mercola's Comment:

I've warned you before about the destruction of organic standards, especially since mega-companies like Wal-Mart and Dean Foods (the parent company of Horizon Organic) have jumped on the organic milk bandwagon. Evidently, the deception regarding organic milk is even worse than you probably ever imagined.

All of the milk from Aurora Organics and most from Horizon is produced by cows that came from factory dairy feedlots and existed on disgusting diets of genetically modified grains, slaughterhouse waste and chicken manure.

The only good news here is that all the attention paid to this organic problem by news outlets and Web sites like mine is forcing the USDA to act. Unfortunately, that doesn't mean you should be drinking organic milk anyway, considering it's pasteurized just like all the other conventional varieties of milk found at your corner grocery store.

The real issue is not organic versus non-organic milk, it is raw versus pasteurized.

Secondary issues would be the food source that is given to the cow. Ideally, they should be fed exclusively on grass. When you start giving cows grains, even organic ones, their milk will have lower levels of important nutrients such as conjugated linoleic acid.

Your best bet for your good health is to find a local source for raw milk, which I believe is one of the best foods for most people. If you find this statement unusual then please read my article on the reasons why raw milk is becoming more popular.

Related Articles:

Major Confusion Between Organic and Healthy

More Confusing, Deceptive Milk Marketing

Organic Food Becoming Big Business
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Article's Comment     ( 93 Comments )
 
 
 +92 Points           
 
Author of the Article
BY Dr. David Spitz   
Apprentice User
  
[ Joined on 12/06 ]
[ Posted on April 05, 2007 ]
Post Reply
To solve the dilemma of milk, organic milk or raw milk. Remember several things:
  • Humans are the only creatures that consume the milk of another into adulthood.
  • Cow's milk is the most acidic food, making the body acidic
  • Human breast milk is alkaline, keeping a proper ph balance
  • Every country that has a high rate of dairy consumption has a high rate of osteoporosis due to leaching of calcium from bones to buffer blood.
Stop drinking milk! Where do cows get calcium from?
 
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 +14 Points           
 
Author of the Article
BY Witch Doctor   
Apprentice User
  
[ Joined on 09/06 ]
Author of the Article [ Posted on April 06, 2007 ]
 
It is not a conclusive correlation to draw. The countries with a high rate of dairy consumption and osteoporosis are likely to be the ones with the Westernized or technologized diets.  If anything, Western diets are reducing milk consumption, with so many alternatives in tha last couple decades.  They have also been reducing consumption of milkfat and animal fat in general for over 50 years.  Sean pointed out fat is a buffering agent against acidification of blood.  I add that reducing fat reduces fat-soluble nutrients (no-brainer) some of which are necessary for good bone density. Fat-free dairy probably is bad.  Just my opinion.  Duane

 +13 Points           
 
Author of the Article
BY Bridestein   
Savvy User
  
[ Joined on 12/06 ]
Author of the Article [ Posted on April 06, 2007 ]
 
Don't these statistics actually pertain to pasteurized milk? I'm fairly certain that the countries with high rates of osteoporosis are not consuming raw milk. And couldn't there be other contributing factors, like lack of sunlight or other nutrients?
Also, it is my understanding that consuming acidic foods (like lemons, for instance) does not necessarily create an acidic response in the body. Does anyone know?
Thanks!

 +12 Points           
 
Author of the Article
BY helpingheart   
Savvy User
  
[ Joined on 06/06 ]
Author of the Article [ Posted on April 10, 2007 ]
 

Dr Mercola would disagree with Dr David Spitz.

  • It has more nutrients: Raw milk is an outstanding source of nutrients including healthy beneficial bacteria such as lactobacillus acidophilus, vitamins and enzymes.

  • People feel the health benefits: Raw milk is not associated with any of the health problems surrounding pasteurized milk such as rheumatoid arthritis, skin rashes, diarrhea and cramps. Even people who have been allergic to pasteurized milk for many years can typically tolerate and even thrive on raw milk.

  • It tastes better: As with any food, fresher is always better and this applies to milk as well. Fresh raw milk is creamier and better tasting than pasteurized milk that has a shelf life of several weeks.

Articles: http://www.mercola.com/2006/sep/7/the_expert_are_wrong_about_raw_milk.htm

http://www.mercola.com/2004/apr/24/raw_milk.htm

http://www.mercola.com/2003/may/24/milk_pregnancy.htm

http://v.mercola.com/blogs/public_blog/Time-Magazine-Cites-Mercola-com-as-a-Leader-in-the-Raw-Milk-Movement-7422.aspx

http://www.mercola.com/2005/nov/26/is_there_any_difference_between_organic_pasteurized_milk.htm

 +12 Points           
 
Author of the Article
BY Witch Doctor   
Apprentice User
  
[ Joined on 09/06 ]
Author of the Article [ Posted on April 06, 2007 ]
 

A previous topic had conversation about dietary influence of acid-base balance. Cathy said it's not scientific - mostly refuted - and the body has elaborate mechanisms to stay in balance. I did some research, and learned the primary mechanism the body uses is through glutamine metabolism.

DigitalNaturopath.com: "The body has an exquisite mechanism for maintaining pH homeostasis. If the pH of the blood is too acidic, more glutamine is directed to the kidneys, where a certain type of glutamine results in the release of bicarbonate ions to correct acidosis. If the pH is too alkaline, more glutamine is sent to the liver, where a different kind of metabolism releases hydrogen ions to correct alkalosis." Also: "Glutamine is the most abundant free amino acid in the serum".

It would seem a meat eater and dairy drinker has the advantage here, in having a better store of glutamine to draw on as a buffer against acid or base swings. A vegetarian may have less glutamine stores to draw on, which may explain their greater interest in dietary effect on acid - base balance. So, quite contrary to what some have claimed, the main influence appears to be glutamine intake, which is found in milk, which provides the body with the its best buffering mechanism. Just my opinion. Duane

 

 +9 Points           
 
Author of the Article
BY Shelly Dixon Moran