Organic dairy products come from cows that are not routinely given antibiotics and are fed a natural, pesticide-free diet. An Organic Consumers Association report states that people of all ages, races and income levels buy organic foods. According to a 2010 report by the Organic Trade Association, demand for organic dairy has grown by 20 to 30 percent in recent years. The U.S. government states that there is no nutritional difference between organic and conventional food, but many shoppers feel otherwise.
More Vitamins
Organic dairy has some health benefits when compared to conventionally produced milk. According to the Organic Consumers Association, one benefit of organic milk is that it is higher in vitamins and antioxidants. Some of the vitamins and antioxidants found in greater concentration in organic milk include vitamin E, beta carotene, omega-3 fatty acids, lutein and zeaxanthine.
Allergies, Asthma and Eczema
Organic milk is also associated with lower rates of allergies, asthma and eczema in children. When pregnant and breastfeeding women and their children consumed organic dairy products, their children had 36 percent lower rates of asthma, eczema and allergies by age 2, according to a Newcastle University study conducted by Carlo Leifert and Machteld Huber and published in the "British Journal of Nutrition."
No Hormones
As part of the organic certification requirements, organic milk cannot come from cows that were given growth hormones. The growth hormone sometimes given to cows is called recombinant bovine growth hormone, or rBGH, and it is banned in Canada and many European countries. According to the Cancer Prevention Coalition, milk containing rBGH has excess levels of insulin-like growth factor-1, which may contribute to cancer.
References
- Organic Consumers Association: Industry Study on Why Millions of Americans are Buying Organic Foods
- Natural News: Organic Milk Linked to Lower Rates of Allergies, Asthma and Eczema
- Organic Trade Association: Organic Dairy Products
- Organic Consumers Association: Organic Milk Contains More Vitamins and Health-Producing Antioxidants
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