Milk consumers in the United States should note that most regular pasteurized milk comes from cows that have been given synthetic growth hormones, known confusingly under three different names: rBST, rBGH, and Posilac. They all refer to exactly the same thing: synthetic growth hormones that are injected into cows to make them produce more milk than they normally would.



Several studies have shows that synthetic growth hormones in milk can increase the risk of cancer in humans. As a consequence, synthetic growth hormones are banned in most parts of the world (but not in the USA where the hormones where developed).

When you buy regular pasteurized milk in the United States the label gives no indication that the milk contains synthetic growth hormones, yet more than 95% of all pasteurized milk sold in regular stores and supermarkets contain these harmful hormones.

This is causing concern for many American consumers, and as a result some companies such as Wal-Mart and the coffee-chain Starbucks are switching to milk free of synthetic growth hormones.

How does deceptive labelling fit into this?

When milk suppliers provide milk that is said to be free of synthetic growth hormones they are labelling the milk as being "hormone free". This is totally misleading because no milk is "hormone free". All kinds of milk without exception contain bovine growth hormones known as IGF-1. These bovine hormones are known to produce cancer in humans as evidenced by exhaustive research over the years.

Organic milk producers are the biggest culprits when it comes to milk labelling. This is because a big selling point for organic milk in the USA is that it does not contain synthetic growth hormones. Organic milk labels typically state: "hormone, antibiotics and pesticide-free." This is totally misleading because, as stated, no milk is hormone free.

So if milk is labelled "hormone free" it is not only deceptive but factually incorrect. Such labelling implies the milk has no growth hormones, and this is simply not so. Instead of labelling the milk "hormone free", it could be labelled "rBST free", "rBGH free", "free of artificial growth hormones", or even "free of synthetic growth hormones".

All dairy milk without exception then contains harmful bovine growth hormones. On top of this, nearly all American milk also contains harmful synthetic growth hormones. This is why it is no exaggeration to say that it is deceptive to label any kind of milk as being "hormone free".

There is, however, one big exception: plant-based milks contain no harmful hormones. Non-dairy milk made from seeds, nuts, soybeans or rice is totally free of harmful hormones. Such milk is super-nutritious and truly delicious. See below for a totally free ebook on how to make wonderful nut & seed milk.