Should I switch to organic milk?

[OldieMum]

Advice and information, please. I have seen on earlier threads that there is a lot of mucus in non-organic milk. I also recently read an article in the Grauniad setting out the animal welfare issues regarding non-organic milk. However, I have not come across much in the way of evidence about the benefits or safety of organic milk (presumably some of the nasties in non-organic kill off bugs). Can anyone point me to independent sources of information? I have a sceptical DH to convince that it's safe and worth the extra money. Thanks.

[DaisyBrambleofWillowbottom]

of course it's safe! it's been pasteurised just like any other milk... it just isn't full of manky antibiotics and stuff that they give the cows!

also higher in omega 3 than regular milk.

AND... it tastes much nicer

[OldieMum]

Sounds encouraging. I assumed it was safe, but DH wants chapter and verse. Any ideas?

[DaisyBrambleofWillowbottom]

i'll see if i can find anything online

[DaisyBrambleofWillowbottom]

\link{http://www.omsco.co.uk/index.cfm/organicmilk/WhyOrganic.Health\organic milk}

[iota]

it's not actually much dearer than ordinary milk

[DaisyBrambleofWillowbottom]

In December 2001, a government report revealed that traces of the toxic pesticide, Lindane, had been found in 8% of non-organic milk samples across the UK. Lindane is a hormone disrupter linked to birth-defects, sexual abnormalities, reproductive failure and breast cancer. The same report revealed that earlier samples of non-organic butter had contained traces of the chemical DDT, which can affect the nervous system and is possibly a cause of cancer in humans. No pesticide residue traces were found in any of the organic dairy samples tested.

[DaisyBrambleofWillowbottom]

In an article in The Times Vicki Edgson, a nutritionist, and co-author of The Food Doctor says. "...............I wonder whether the rise in infertility isn’t associated with hormone imbalances created by eating dairy produce. I feel strongly enough about this to advise all my clients of childbearing age to consider carefully whether they should have non-organic dairy produce.”

Source The Times 14 Sept 2003

[IVB]

When you think about all the drugs we are told not to consume when pregnant or breastfeeding because it ends up in our breastmilk, it kind of makes sense that the same would apply to cows. For this reason, I always give my kids organic dairy produce if possible.

[donnie]

I must admit I always get organic dairy produce now and much prefer it - it's peace of mind as much as anything else. Milk, cheese, butter and yoghurts, usually yeo valley stuff.

[Clure]

I am vegan and feel under pressurea to give DD "normal" milk. Still partially breast feeding plus organic formula. (Had to do formula top ups in early days as DD was loosing so much weight then really slow to put on) Anyway now DD is one and am giving her soya milk for brekkie and a mix of organic cows milk and formula as she didn't take kindly to straight cows milk. Agree that non-organic milk is full of antibiotics and other stuff they pump the cattle with. Feel a hypocrit anyway as vegan mum feeding child cows milk - skulking round the dairy section in balaclava

[Angeliz]

O.K, i'm convinced, it's actually something i don't buy organic.
Am going to start though.

[FrannyandZooey]

Yes I agree even if you only want to buy a small proportion of your food organic, buy organic dairy produce. The other stuff is scary.

[RTKangaMummy]

We buy organic milk and meat

[Mercy]

Wasn't it Heather McCartney who was going on about mucous in milk?

Anyway, I'm like RTKM - organic meat and dairy products as long as they are produced in the UK

[Mercy]

Actually I just told a big fib there - not all our meat is organic. But we do buy organic eggs !

[poppiesinaline]

Going to ask a silly question now but am allowed to cos its on MN!!

The milk you get from the milkman rather than the supermarket - is that organic? or is it normal stuff?

[Mercy]

I would think non-organic

[laundrylover]

Most milkmen (or ladies!!) deliver milk from a dairy these days which would be same place that the supermarket (non organic) comes from. There are a few that deliver only from their own farm (bottle usually labelled) but I bet there are no organic farms that do this. I say ask your milkperson but if they are a farmery type bet they'll rail against organic farming!!
PS I'm a dairy farmer's daughter, ex milkgirl and drinker of organic milk!!!!
Yay to buying British by the way!

[NannyL]

Our milk mand delivers BOTH organic and non organic milk, depending on what you ask him to deliver

[Tatties]

I'm sure Jane Clarke the nutritionist said that if you are only going to switch to one organic thing, it should be milk.

[laundrylover]

NannyL you must live in the SE!
It's still grim up north you know!