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Organic Milk

Is organic milk healthier than conventional milk? No. Organic and conventional milk are nutritionally identical: they contain the same amount of calcium, vitamin D and other essential nutrients.

There is inadequate research to indicate that one milk product choice is healthier than the other.1-3. Both regular and organic milk are healthy choices. Like conventional milk, organic milk must meet the same rigid quality standards at each step from the farm to consumers. Both milks are free of antibiotics and artificial growth hormones.

Organic milk is produced by cows that are fed organically grown feed. There are third-party certification bodies that determine the definition of “organic.”

The main difference between organic and non-organic milk is the cost - organic milk is often more expensive. It is, ultimately, a personal choice; both types of milk are natural, safe and wholesome.

References

  1. Williams CM. Nutritional quality of organic food: shades of grey or shades of green? Proc Nutr Soc, 2002. 61(1): p. 19-24.
  2. Magkos F et al. Organic food: nutritious food or food for thought? A review of the evidence. Int J Food Sci Nutr, 2003. 54(5): p. 357-71.
  3. Magkos F et al. Organic food: buying more safety or just peace of mind? A critical review of the literature. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr, 2006. 46(1): p. 23-56.

Keywords: organic milk

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