Who knew? Wal-Mart (Great Value) milk is hormone-free.

[Jo..]

http://walmartstores.com/pressroom/news/8147.aspx

This will save our family some gas mileage if we don't happen to be near Braum's (local hormone-free dairy store).

[maestramommy]

Isn't most milk out there hormone free now? Seems like you have to look to find milk that isn't. We've been buying store brand milk for what seems like forever (though probably isn't I know) because it's hormone free.

[Jo..]

AFAIK, our local supermarket chain (Reasor's) is not. :(

[Jo..]

After pretty extensive googling, I am of the opinion that many supermarket brands/big brands are NOT hormone free. I think you have to remain cautious about and research your milk sources.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bovine_somatotropin

[Nu_mama]

So if my milk says "rBST free" this means it doesn't have hormones, right? Is there more I should be doing to investigate this?

[DietCokeLover]

Just as an FYI, both Aldi and Sam's brands are hormone free.

[mypa]

Just as an FYI, both Aldi and Sam's brands are hormone free.

Target's Market Pantry brand milk (lactose free), too.

[Jo..]

Just as an FYI, both Aldi and Sam's brands are hormone free.

I knew that about Aldi but did not about Sam's. Although, that makes total sense...Sam's/Wm...TY!

[kellij]

Just as an FYI, both Aldi and Sam's brands are hormone free.

Ooo, good to know about Sam's! Thank you!

[jd11365]

Also Publix.

[maestramommy]

After pretty extensive googling, I am of the opinion that many supermarket brands/big brands are NOT hormone free. I think you have to remain cautious about and research your milk sources.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bovine_somatotropin


Thanks for the link Jo. But I see the list of stores must not be complete, because TJs sells hormone free milk, and they're not on there. FWIW, two local chains where I shop (STop and Shop, and Hannaford) sell the milk labeled "does not contain rbst hormones" or something like that. They aren't on the list either.

And why does it not surprise me that Monsanto is in the middle of this? They have their grubby hands in everything!

[KHF]

Kroger milk also does not contain the artificial growth hormones. I remember a few years ago, it used to be labeled as such, but Monsanto threw a hissy fit and they were barred from labeling their milk as such. It is still artificial hormone free though. Here (http://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/Business/Battle-continues-over-labeling-of-rbST-in-milk) is an article on the label flap.

[MamaMolly]

Thanks for posting this, Jo. I've been buying UHT and am really happy to read this about GV milk. :applause:

[wellyes]

Everywhere I go sells milk with that "does not contain rBST hormones" line.

But - milk isn't ever hormone free. All dairy cows are pregnant 100% of the time now. Even on organic farms. Modern milk is very different from the milk of our parents and our childhoods. That increased estrogen causes (among other things) early sexual maturity - girls who get their periods before age 10, for example. Because estrogen is carried in milk fat, we only drink skim around here after infancy.

[daisymommy]

Yes, all milk contains some hormones from the female cow making the milk. But there is a HUGE difference between how the human body processes artificial rBGH/rBST and natural cow hormones. The natural type don't give you cancer and all sorts of other toxic symptoms that way the artificial stuff does. Besides the fact that adding more hormones on top of what's already there is bad for us and the cows. It makes them produce more milk than is normal for their body, and cruelly causes mastitis and infections.

I want no part of milk or other foods that are adulterated by science.

http://www.preventcancer.com/consumers/general/milk.htm

[wellyes]

The natural type don't give you cancer and all sorts of other toxic symptoms that way the artificial stuff does.

The evidence suggests otherwise. I've read several articles that link estrogen to increased ovarian and prostate cancer risk.
http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/2006/12.07/11-dairy.html
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14729019
http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/id/QAA400175

Estrogen is a natural hormone. But unless the cow you are getting it from is not milked year round, especially in the late stages of pregnancy (which isn't true of any commercially sold milk in the US that I am aware of), you are getting a highly amplified dose of estrogen that isn't natural at all.

[daisymommy]

As always, there are studies to support both sides of every issue depending upon who you talk to. Vegetarians and vegans and omnivores can go round and round about these issues for days, can't we? ;)

[wellyes]

We can all agree the artificial hormones are bad!

I am not a vegan, by the way. I love cheese to an unhealthy degree. I just bring this stuff up because I've only read about the estrogen recently and it freaks me out a little. I have been a 2% milk drinker my whole life and am not into the skim AT ALL. But I want DD to be a kid as long as possible.... I hear about girls getting periods at age 8-9 and really want to avoid that.

[Reina]

We can all agree the artificial hormones are bad!

I am not a vegan, by the way. I love cheese to an unhealthy degree. I just bring this stuff up because I've only read about the estrogen recently and it freaks me out a little. I have been a 2% milk drinker my whole life and am not into the skim AT ALL. But I want DD to be a kid as long as possible.... I hear about girls getting periods at age 8-9 and really want to avoid that.

Then try to also avoid products that contain soy and other legumes. The isoflavones (the chemical compound found in legumes) has a structure almost identical to estrogen, thus interfering with estrogen reuptake in our bodies, and increasing estrogen activity.