Tag: Bovine growth hormone

According to a study in the *Journal of Dairy Science*, heat treatments commonly used in milk processing do not significantly alter concentrations of steroid hormones like estrogen and cortisol. This critical finding helps answer the common question: does heat destroy hormones in milk and, if so, which ones?

According to a 2014 USDA survey, fewer than one in six cows were being injected with the synthetic hormone rBGH, but many still wonder: Does milk have HGH in it and is it safe? The answer is more nuanced than a simple yes or no, involving a closer look at both naturally occurring and synthetic hormones in dairy.

According to the FDA, consuming milk and meat from cows treated with recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH) is safe because the large protein is broken down in the human digestive tract and has no biological effect. However, this topic remains a source of public concern due to questions surrounding potential impacts on human health, specifically related to increased levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1).

As a direct response to customer feedback, Kroger transitioned its entire store-brand milk supply to be certified rbST-free by early 2008, a policy that remains in effect today. This means you can be confident that Kroger's private-label milk does not contain the controversial artificial growth hormone, though they are legally required to note that the FDA states no significant difference has been shown.

While dairy farmers do not add human growth hormone (HGH) to milk, raw cow's milk does contain naturally occurring bovine growth hormone (bGH). This protein hormone is species-specific and biologically inactive when consumed by humans, meaning it has no effect on human growth or development.

While A2 milk is often marketed with an implication of being 'hormone-free,' the truth is that all cow's milk naturally contains hormones. The core issue is separating the natural presence of hormones from the use of added synthetic growth hormones like rBST.

Not all milk contains the artificial growth hormone rBGH, which is used by some dairy farmers to increase milk production. Many dairy products, including all organic milk, are produced without this synthetic hormone. However, all milk naturally contains some levels of hormones, which are broken down during digestion.

A 2019 study published by the Organic Center found that conventional milk had up to 20 times higher levels of growth hormone residue compared to organic milk. This surprising statistic highlights the complex question: does all milk contain hormones? The simple answer is yes, all milk, regardless of its source, contains naturally occurring hormones.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), bovine growth hormone (bGH) is a large protein that is safely broken down during human digestion. This is a key reason why scientists and regulatory bodies conclude that bovine growth hormone does not biologically affect humans.

Most people are concerned about added hormones in dairy products, but it is a fact that all foods derived from multicellular organisms contain natural hormones. The key for consumers is to understand the difference between these naturally occurring compounds and added synthetic growth hormones, which can be avoided by choosing specific labeled products.