Drinking my first serving of rBGH-free milk

[derby378]

Actually, I had it a couple of nights ago. Horizon Organic Vanilla Milk, to be precise. Now I've got a quart of their reduced-fat chocolate milk in the fridge. I love chocolate milk.

This is partially in reaction to the first 30 minutes of The Corporation. They discuss Monsanto's Posilac hormone and its possible side effects in both cows and humans.

Safeway and Oak Farms, you know I love your milk, but until you start eliminating rBGH from your dairy products, you'll be getting a lot less money from me.

[RebelOne]

1. Try soy milk. You will be surprised at how delicious it is.

And it is much healthier than milk. The vanilla and chocolate flavors are just like drinking a milk shake.

[flamingyouth]

13. I agree - yum!

And the coffee creamers (esp. French Vanilla and Hazelnut) are soooo delish!!! :9

[ewagner]

2. How do you know?

I worked in the industry for 10 years....the farmers all used that stuff and knew it couldn't revealed by any tests of any kind. Many of the farmers signed "pledges" but used the crap anyway because it was all upside (more production) and no downside (couldn't be busted for using it unless they were caught in the act).

I still don't trust anything that says "rBGH FREE"

[Taverner]

4. Also keep in mind some of the regular milk may have been rBGH free

In Tilamook, Oregon, for example, many farmers have stopped using it because it may have increased cow's production, but many cows were out of production due to health issues associated with it.

rBGH is proving to have more of a financial impact than previously thought.

[ewagner]

9. Cows can

"burn out" in two or three years but the "replacement heiffer" market keeps a supply ready and cost of hamburger low. In short, many don't care.

[Taverner]

14. Many don't, but in Tilamook County for some reason

New replacement cows were not cost effective.

Perhaps this might be a good model for a strategy? Rather than attacking the lion head on, pressure governments to adopt replacement cow subsidy cuts?

[OldLeftieLawyer]

3. We went organic years ago

I used to have to drive to the one store in the area that stocked organic milk - from the Chrome Dairy, in PA - once a week to pick up the glass half-gallons, the kind that have the cream on top!

Now, it's all stocked in our local Whole Foods. Congratulations on discovering how good hormone-free can be. Drink up! It's once again good for you!

[GreenPartyVoter]

5. We live in Maine so we don't worry so much about rBGH

[rockedthevoteinMA]

11. Oakhurst, right? They're the ones Montasato went after recently.

Mother Jones had an article about it last year. I wish they'd come south to Massachusetts.

[redqueen]

6. I've bought Horizon products for years...

ever since my GP told me never to give my kids milk unless it was organic or from goats.

Frickin corporatists... I think they consider the customer to be their enemy.


on edit: I've never tried their Vanilla Milk, nor seen it that I recall, but now I'm going to go look for it, because that sounds delicioso.

[Skinner]

7. When I saw the title of your post, I thought to myself...

...I bet they saw "The Corporation."

I saw it last week, and I had the exact same reaction. The first thing I did was walk to the fridge and check if our milk was rBGH-free. Thankfully, it was.

After seeing that film, I will not knowingly put rBGH milk in my body. I still get queasy thinking about it. :puke:

[derby378]

12. I was definitely disturbed by some of the visuals

Not to mention the possible contents of milk from infected cows who are on rBGH. Ew.

To answer an earlier poster, there's always going to be some risk from drinking milk, whether it contains rBGH or not. But, being a good little capitalist, I want to minimize risk as much as reasonably possible. And I don't want antibiotics in my system unless I'm being medicated for some disease, either.

[Justitia]

8. If you want the REAL deal, drink Organic Valley products.

Horizon is actually Dean Foods and a bit deceptive about their "organic" classification.

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2005/04/13/milk/

Organic Valley is a great company - actually it is a cooperative of family farms across the country, and they are real organic - grazing cows and all.

Horizon charges the same exact price while not adhering to the same standards. Yes, they are still way better in a pinch than traditional dairy, but Organic Valley is superior.

http://www.organicvalley.coop/

Their sister coop company for foods:

http://www.organicprairie.com/

Support your family farms and their happy, grazing cows :7

[derby378]

16. Thanks for the tip

Will definitely check it out!

[LeftyMom]

21. The Organic Valley soy milk is super good.

It's a bit thiner than Silk and has a really plesant mild flavor.

[rockedthevoteinMA]

10. Haven't seen the movie yet, but made the switch two months ago.

I bought my parents some too, and now my mother even mentions to me the difference. Now I can't buy cups of coffee anywhere, anymore. Which is good, it's much cheaper making my own, and bringing it with me.

I can't wait to see the movie... Hoping it will be on Sundance or IFC soon, my local movie rental place just closed up shop, and now the only alternative is Blockbuster. :(

[supernova]

15. We have Maple View Farm

for organic hormone and antibiotic free milk. You can buy their milk in the regular grocery store in returnable glass bottles. :-)

And their chocolate milk is TO DIE FOR! :9

http://www.mapleviewfarm.com/

[derby378]

17. The closest thing we have to that in Texas is Promised Land

Not organic, but still rBGH-free. The only problem is that their profits often go to anti-abortion groups and assorted RWers.

[supernova]

18. Sorry to hear that.

I know this family personally. They've given the land to the local Nature Conservancy in trust when they die so it won't be developed.

[derby378]

20. Such a shame that Promised Land milk is SO GOOD

If they'd just funnel some cash to Texas progessives, I'm there, dude.

[Justitia]

22. Owner James Leininger is a HUGE fundie RWer, very politically active

He is on a serious crusade to eradicate all public education in Texas, and that is NOT hyperbole. Big name in San Antonio, part owner of the Spurs (10%).

He is also VERY wealthy and a good friend and constant backer of Bush, Gov Perry and the TX GOP.

His family has loads of sordid scandals and he is one scary dude.

Note: Whole Foods store-branded milk is from Promised Land
http://www.austinchronicle.com/issues/vol18/issue22/pols.leininger.contr.side.html

I hate to think any progressive-minded folks are financially contributing to him in any way.

[Justitia]

19. Organic Valley is available here in TX (I'm in Houston)

The family dairy farm that provides it is in Sulpher Springs, TX. The Organic Valley milk cartons / jugs sold here are labeled "Texas Pastures".

The family farmers that run that farm have a really great personal story - their ancestors were African Americans given land grants in WWII to grow food for American soldiers in the war. Check out their story:

http://www.organicvalley.coop/our_story/meet_the_farmers/texas.html

You can find Organic Valley products at HEB Central Market, Whole Foods, Sun Harvest and other places - they have a zip code locater for finding suppliers.

Once again, Organic Valley is a coop of family-owned farms whose organic standards are superior to Horizon (Dean Foods). Horizon will do in a bind, but Organic Valley's practices are much truer to the ideals behind "organic" (and not corporate owned).

Sorry if I sound like a cheerleader, I'm just impressed w/them.

:9

[GirlinContempt]

23. I'm so glad

I live in a country that doesn't allow that crap

[Deja Q]

24. rBGH-infested milk also lowers the expiration date to 1/2 that of the

date printed on the label.

Forget soy. Prices for soy-anything are asinine. Especially when it's purportedly a common plant.

[derby378]

25. Next time I make homemade ice cream at a DU gathering...

I'm using rBGH-free milk. Organic if I can get it.

I already use eggs from free-range hens - wouldn't have it any other way. No eggs from imprisoned chickens, please!