Milk is one of those grocery items that is on almost everyone’s list. “How much to spend, organic vs. regular vs. RBST hormone free, plastic or coated paper, what percentage of fat, acidophilus or regular?” are all questions that have to be answered when choosing milk. There are so many choices that it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and confused. Let’s look more closely at what choices are available.

Organic milk is produced without antibiotics, synthetic hormones or pesticides. Animals are raised humanely and given certified organic feed — never any animal by-products — and pastures must be certified organic. The milk is also RBST hormone free. Anyone who has ever breastfed a baby knows that what we eat does affect our milk. Same with cows. If cows are given antibiotics, then it is in the milk. If they are given growth hormones, they are in the milk.

Clearly, organic is the best way to go. However, it is costly. It is easy to pay around $4.50 for a half gallon of organic milk. Costco, Trader Joe’s and Wal-Mart sell organic milk for less. However, these choices may not be convenient or close enough to shop at on a weekly basis.

That being said, all organic milk is not necessarily created equal. The Cornucopia Institute has rated 68 different organic dairy and private-label products so that we can compare which brands are produced using the best organic farming practices and ethics. Costco and Trader Joe’s both rate a 1 out of 5 (5 being excellent). Wal-Mart declined participation in the study and received a rating of “0.” Click on link to view their dairy scorecared

RBST hormone free milk deserves consideration. There has been much controversy over this growth hormone (which is given to cows to increase milk production) and studies have concluded that there is “No significant difference between milk derived from cows treated with artificial hormones and those not treated with artificial hormones.” (link to http://www.smithbrothersfarms.com/information.html) We know instinctively that what goes into a cows body also goes into it’s milk. So, if we can eliminate a foreign hormone from going into our children’s milk then it’s probably a good thing. Trader Joe’s milk and dairy products are all RBST hormone free and about the same price (in our area) as grocery store milk.

Milk with Lactobacillus Acidophilus Culture usually labeled “Acidophilus” has additional benefits. Acidophilus promotes good flora and fauna in our stomach and intestines and helps prevent the bad stuff (like yeast) from taking over and causing problems. If you have any issues with an overabundance of yeast then acidophilus is a good choice to make. I always buy milk with acidophilus if I can get it.

The percentage of milk fat is a personal choice. If you are giving milk to a child under 2 years of age, then whole milk is best. After that 1% or 2% is a good bet for growing children. If non-fat is the preferred choice in your house then that’s okay too. Calcium absorption is actually higher in low fat dairy foods!

Plastic jugs versus paper: “Scientific studies have shown that milk exposed to light in clear plastic containers can destroy most of the milk’s vitamin C and half of the riboflavin. The clear plastic containers also tend to give the milk a flat oxidized flavor. Paper cartons block out 96% of the light with no flavor change.” (Study by Cornell University, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.)

A plug for home delivery!

I have Smith Brothers Farms deliver RBST Hormone free milk to my doorstep on a weekly basis. In addition to getting fresh milk that hasn’t been trucked across state lines, I like the fact that I am supporting local farms and small business. Their milk is priced in accordance with a grocery store in my area, so it’s comparable to what I’d be paying at the store. I find that I go to the grocery store less and thus my grocery and gas bills are less. In addition to milk, Smith Brother’s delivers eggs, yogurt, cheese, buttermilk, butter, cookie dough, and laundry detergent. All of the dairy products are guaranteed to be RBST free and there is no limit on how little you can have delivered! Sometimes I get one half gallon of milk and that’s it. All of this and a reasonable price. What’s not to like?! If you do not live in Washington State do a Google search for “milk delivery” in your area and see what’s available. You might just be surprised!

Now that you’ve chosen which milk to buy you might want to reconsider how much you, and especially your children, drink on a daily basis. I’ll save that for Milk- chapter II: Is Milk Really a Health Food?