Tribune Chronicle
Mary Smallsreed

Mary Smallsreed of the Tribune Chronicle addresses some of the many terms commonly used in milk marketing, such as rBGH/rbST, IGF-1 and “antibiotic-free.”

Excerpt…

“Drink your milk!” I know my mom told me this, and I tell my own children, too. I’d like to give you several reasons for you to drink your milk, too.

We all know that milk is nutritious and delicious, but you may not know some of the specific reasons milk is so good for you. In addition to providing several essential nutrients, milk has been shown to play a role in reducing the risk of osteoporosis, dental disease, obesity, hypertension and colon cancer.

One serving of skim or lowfat milk contains fewer calories than soda or juice. This one serving provides protein along with nine essential vitamins and minerals. Calcium, potassium, vitamin B2, zinc, vitamin D, vitamin A, vitamin B12, niacin, and phosphorous.

Milk is safe. The dairy case is full of choices, but one thing that doesn’t vary is the safety of the product. Milk and dairy products are among the most highly tested and regulated foods in the country.

Speaking of choices, there are many. Plus, there are some new terms being used in the advertisement of dairy products. One is bovine somatotropin, also referred to as bST or bGH. It is a naturally occurring protein hormone in cows. A trace amount of this hormone is present in all milk, including organic products, and is digested just like other proteins.

Some dairy producers supplement their cows with a synthetic version of this protein to increase milk production. Even with this additional protein, the levels never surpass what the cow could produce naturally. The resulting milk is unchanged — it is the same, safe, wholesome product.

IGF-1 is also a new term. It is a protein found in all animals — including humans — that promotes growth and repair of major tissues, organs and bones. It’s found in blood, saliva, milk and virtually every tissue in the body. IGF-1 occurs naturally in humans in much higher levels than is found in cow’s milk. In fact, a person would need to drink 400 8-oz. glasses of milk a day to equal the amount of IGF-1 already present in human saliva.

All milk is antibiotic-free. Dairy cows receive regular veterinary care to ensure their health and well-being, but they may sometimes require administration of antibiotics. When this happens, the sick cow is taken from the milking herd, treated under a veterinarian’s supervision and not returned until her milk tests free of antibiotics — ensuring all milk in the dairy case is, in fact, antibiotic-free. In addition, every tank load of milk entering dairy processing plants is strictly tested for animal drug residues and disposed of if it tests positive….

Full article at Tribune Chronicle.