Milk and hormones

Natural Hormones in Foods. Did you know that all livings things produce hormones? All cows naturally produce a protein hormone called Bovine somatotropin (bST). Bovine somatotropin is important in a list of metabolic activities for cows, most notably it helps young cows to grow and grown cows to produce milk. A small amount of this particular hormone is present in all milk, organic and traditional. But, just as with all foods, our digestive system breaks down these hormones as protein when they are consumed.

Use of Recombinant Bovine Somatotropin: Cows can produce more milk when they have more of the bST hormone. Some dairy farmers have chosen to treat some of their cows with a supplemental version of the bST hormone called recombinant bovine somatoropin or rbST. After extensive review this drug was proven safe for cows and found to have no effect on the level of hormone found in milk. Many dairy farmers choose not to use this medication on their farms; milk from these farms are often labeled that way.

Safety of Milk: It’s important to understand that carton to carton, bottle to bottle, all milk is wholesome, safe and nutritious. Dairy products are among the most tested and regulated foods in this country, and American dairy products are among the safest in the world. All milk contains the same combination of nine essential nutrients that make dairy products an important part of a healthy diet, regardless of on-farm production methods or milk label claims.

Adapted from: Milk and Hormones Fact Sheet