Earlier this week, I reported that Safeway and Chipotle eliminated the rBGH hormone from their dairy products, and it seems many other dairies are following suit.
There has been much debate over whether the artificial growth hormone, known as rbST or rBGH, is harmful to human health, but this is one case where consumers are the ones proactively demanding a healthier change; because increasing numbers of consumers are demanding milk free from the genetically engineered hormone supplements, a growing number of dairy producers and food industry players have begun demanding rbST-free milk.
There is one extremely important caveat, however: I still don’t recommend drinking pasteurized milk, even if it doesn’t contain hormones. This is because pasteurization destroys enzymes, diminishes vitamin content, denatures fragile milk proteins, destroys vitamin B12, and vitamin B6, kills beneficial bacteria, promotes pathogens and is associated with allergies, increased tooth decay, colic in infants and a host of other health problems.
In my opinion, you’re better off saving the extra dollars that will go toward purchasing premium-priced hormone-free milk and seeking out a raw milk source near you instead.
CheckBioTech.org January 19, 2007