Organic Milk

[James A.]

Just curious...

How many of you buy organic milk? I'm seeing it offered more and more and the price is MUCH higher than standard.

[Jacko]

We get organic milk from our goats when they are in-season. We try to buy it as often as possible at the store or the local co-op when the price is reasonable.

[Kellyk]

Okay, I don't actually drink milk but all of the dairy products I buy are organic...in fact most of the food I buy is organic and especially animal prducts. It's too much to go into here really but after tons of reading and much research I've learned how foods really affect our bodies, our economy and our environment and I feel that organic farming of animals and crops is something that I truely believe is the right way and something I want to support. If you don't believe me then read or watch the videa A Diet for a New America That'll get your attention. Some organic foods are more expensive than their non-organic conterparts, some are not, but the overwhelming support of the organic industry is driving the prices down. There was an organic milk shortage a few months ago...so much demand and very little supply...look for that to change soon.

It's worth a few minutes on-line to check out some of the companies who produce the products. They aren't all equal, some have their own higher standards they stick to, and some are squeeking by on the standards that our government keeps weekening to allow for bigger diaries to get in on the action. I could name names...but I wont. Know that what they do to our food gets put in our bodies and there are some strange things happening out there right now.
I'm jumping off my soapbox now before I really start taking off!

[Jacko]

Originally Posted by Kellyk

Okay, I don't actually drink milk but all of the dairy products I buy are organic...in fact most of the food I buy is organic and especially animal prducts. It's too much to go into here really but after tons of reading and much research I've learned how foods really affect our bodies, our economy and our environment and I feel that organic farming of animals and crops is something that I truely believe is the right way and something I want to support. If you don't believe me then read or watch the videa A Diet for a New America That'll get your attention. Some organic foods are more expensive than their non-organic conterparts, some are not, but the overwhelming support of the organic industry is driving the prices down. There was an organic milk shortage a few months ago...so much demand and very little supply...look for that to change soon.

It's worth a few minutes on-line to check out some of the companies who produce the products. They aren't all equal, some have their own higher standards they stick to, and some are squeeking by on the standards that our government keeps weekening to allow for bigger diaries to get in on the action. I could name names...but I wont. Know that what they do to our food gets put in our bodies and there are some strange things happening out there right now.
I'm jumping off my soapbox now before I really start taking off!

Great advice Kelly! Here is a note I sent to my staff recently on the same subject:

Folks,

A recent Consumer Reports magazine recognizes that organics can be expensive...they say to be smart, only consider spending your money on organics that give you the most benefit as per the following:

What?- Apples, Bell Peppers, Celery, cherries, imported grapes, necterines, peaches, pears, red raspberries, spinach and strawberries.
Why?- They have consistently more pesticides in them than other fruits and vegetables...even if you wash them.

What?- Meat, poultry, eggs and dairy
Why?- Potential exposure to disease, potential toxins in inorganic feed, avoid results of feeding hormones and antibiotics to farm animals that are linked to increased anti-bacterial resistence in humans.

What? - Baby food
Why?- Babies are more vulnerable to toxins.

Don't waste your money on "organic" seafood (whether wild or farm raised, fish can contain contaminents. Even wild fish like some bluefish can be loaded with PCB's, some Tuna and Swordfish laced with mercury..the larger the fish the more absorption likely) or cosmetics.... Why- No standards in place

Grocery store prices for organics can be steep......Ways to keep prices down...Comparison shop grocery stores......investigate Carolina Sustainable Farm Assoc. (CSFA) for local organic vendors and organic farmers markets..(we are a member)...Check out co-ops like Hendersonville Co-op. Check out www.localharvest.org

Organically yours, Jack

[Kellyk]

Thanks Jacko,, that pretty much says it all in a nutshell doesn't it? I've copied that for use in my next newletter to my clients. Hope that's okay.

Being in the skincare business I see lots of product lines advertised as 'organic' and a few really are, and are in fact good, ethical, companies...I use one in my studio. But unless someone is willing to take the time and research the product line and the company then it's not worth the extra 10 bucks at the grocery store because they have pretty packaging and have 'no preservatives'.

Where's BonnyW...would love to hear what she has to say on the subject.

[Ginger]

I agree with Kelly.

We buy organic milk, but we don't drink much of it. I drink soy milk. Much to the disagreement of my children's teachers when it comes to teaching nutrition, I don't think my kids need milk (but they use it in their cereal, etc.). Why does a human child need to drink a cow's breast milk?? There are other ways to get the calcium et al.

We buy many organic foods also, sometimes to my children's chagrin. For instance, I NEVER buy cereal in the cereal aisle at the grocery store. I head over to the whole foods section (which thankfully our store has) and pay double the price for half the size of a box of organic children's cereal sweetened with cane sugar and cocoa, versus refined sugar and that HORRIBLE high-fructose corn syrup. My kids only get cookies from this same section, sweetened the same way, made with organic flours, etc. Same thing with all their snacks, really..crackers, etc. My kids rarely get Ritz, Wheat Thins, etc. These things are full of horrible things.

I bake my own bread most of the time. I make muffins with very little flour (ground flax, soy flour, ground oats, wheat bran) and my kids love them.

My kids do complain sometimes...but they are old enough now to understand why we eat like this. And it IS more expensive. But my kids are worth it.

Oh, and my kids are sick WAY less often than other kids.

[Ginger]

OH, and I might add, just to be gross and turn you off regular milk forever...regular milk purchased from the grocery store is probably 60% antibiotics and pus. The cows are milked continuously to the point that their nipples are infected, cracked, bruised (SunKneeMarie, you know what I mean! ) so they have to be pumped full of antibiotics on a regular basis.
Gross.

[Michele]

When we lived in the states, I purchased organic milk for my kids regularly. All the stories about the growth hormones causing young girls to reach puberty very early kind of scared me. I don't know if there is a connection but better safe than sorry. The milk we drink here is the ultrapasturized variety. I ought to do some research on what goes into that too.

[shiantry]

I never drink organic milk. the question is "is the milk real organic" or do they let you think it is organic...

[cmsitaly]

I don't drink milk (cow milk anyway) I drink soy. But if I didn't it would certainly be organic. KellyK, Jacko, and Ginger had some great points. Jacko I loved your letter-so true. I give a similar copy to my clients. I went to massage therapy school in 1994 and we had some pretty intense nutrition training. I have been telling my family and friends all of this stuff for years and finally now that it is mainstream they are like hey did you hear that milk is 1/3 puss, avocados are good fat, organic is significant? I am like uhhh...duh...yes! Something about your family connection that makes them not listen to you all of the time. Anyway, I just finished my classes to become a nutritionist and I can't tell you how happy it makes me to hear you guys talk about this stuff!! I love it!
Just another tip...KellyK was talking about the price coming down in organics-which is great. I also try to buy what is on sale (usually that produce is in season as well) and that not only helps with the cost, but also will ensure that you get a variety of veggies and fruits. I call it "eating seasonally"

[ryshkus]

I also try to buy organic and natural products whenever possible. Just looking at the ingredients in all of the snacks that my children like makes me sick. I refuse to buy them and only buy organic. I have found many companies with products that we just love.
You can also buy shares from local farms to get produce throughout the summer.
I have always wanted to try goats milk, but I don't know that we would like it. Many farmers around here will let you pickup raw milk from them for a small fee.

[Jacko]

Originally Posted by shiantry

I never drink organic milk. the question is "is the milk real organic" or do they let you think it is organic...

Good and fair question...the battle is raging here about standards and there is movement to weaken USDA standards for "organic"...but for now, there is still strength in the standard "Organic" for milk and many other products....not perfect perhaps, but it is a useful standard.

[Jacko]

Originally Posted by ryshkus

I also try to buy organic and natural products whenever possible. Just looking at the ingredients in all of the snacks that my children like makes me sick. I refuse to buy them and only buy organic. I have found many companies with products that we just love.
You can also buy shares from local farms to get produce throughout the summer.
I have always wanted to try goats milk, but I don't know that we would like it. Many farmers around here will let you pickup raw milk from them for a small fee.

Goats milk tastes just like regular milk to me...but tastes so much richer and thicker because it is not "fat reduced" and is very, very natural!

[Rissask]

Yummy...nothing like a big piece of chocolate cake with a nice cold glass of pus.
Honestly, we don't buy anything organic. I don't drink milk, but my husband does. I don't think the costs outweigh the risks. I guess you could say I am cheap AND sceptical.
Ginger makes a good point- why do humans need to consume something meant for baby cows? Seems a bit odd when you look at it that way.
But in many parts of the planet, cattle and goats have been domesticated for both meat and milk for thousands of years- so how long does a practice have to be done before it becomes 'natural'? And dairy products are GOOD.
Would the FDA type agencies really allow pesticide residue amounts to be at the levels they are allowable, if it really was that harmful? Plus isn't it true that the current pesticides are much more benign that they used to be- the really bad ones have been banned (not sure about Mexico, I know they allow some there that are banned in the rest of NA. Malathion (spelling) anyone?)
I dunno, organic seems to be another area where if you are rich you get the benefits, if in fact there ARE truly benefits and not just hype from the pro-organic side.

[shiantry]

Originally Posted by Jacko

Good and fair question...the battle is raging here about standards and there is movement to weaken USDA standards for "organic"...but for now, there is still strength in the standard "Organic" for milk and many other products....not perfect perhaps, but it is a useful standard.

My sister her baby girl (Lisa-May) has heavy ellergic reactions from the day she is borned. From her I know that not every organic milk is real organic. Yes we have some Dutch standards they are totaly different then let say the US standards but still not real organic. Even with the Soyamilk you don't know it is organic.