Organic Milk vs. Regular Milk: Debunking the Myths (2024)

FAQs

Is there really a difference between organic milk and regular milk? ›

Dairy farms that sell milk using the “USDA Organic” seal must follow specific criteria: Cows are exclusively given feed grown without the use of pesticides or fertilizers. Cows are given periodic access to pasture. Cows are not treated with supplemental hormones.

A Longer Shelf Life

Most brands of organic milk are sterilized at very high temperatures (around 280 F), so it can keep for up to two months. Because regular pasteurized milk is heated to only 165 F or lower, it doesn't have the same long shelf life.

By choosing organic milk, you can get the nutritional benefits of milk without exposing your family to chemical contaminants. Numerous studies have found that organic milk has a higher nutritional content, and even more healthy omega-3 fatty acids, and more disease-fighting antioxidants than non-organic milk.

30% of the cows' diets must come from pasture grazing. Unfortunately, this doesn't necessarily mean that all organic dairy farms are more humane. Babies are still torn away from their mothers, cows still suffer from mastitis, and living conditions can still be unclean.

Organic milk often undergoes "ultrapasteurization," in which the milk is heated to a very hot 280° F (137.8° C) for 2 seconds, rather than the 161° F (71.7° C) for 15 seconds used in conventional pasteurization. By killing more bacteria, the extra heat extends the milk's expiration date.

Does organic milk contain artificial hormones? There are NEVER any hormones added to milk – whether conventional or organic – but if you're concerned about the use of bovine growth hormones in cows, USDA organic milk standards prohibit organic dairy farmers from treating the cows with any bovine growth hormones.

The process that gives the milk a longer shelf life is called ultrahigh temperature (UHT) processing or treatment, in which milk is heated to 280 degrees Fahrenheit (138 degrees Celsius) for two to four seconds, killing any bacteria in it. Compare that to pasteurization, the standard preservation process.

According to Scientific American, organic milk lasts longer thanks to the process of ultrahigh temperature (UHT) treatment. The ultrahigh temperature treatment is a process of preserving milk in which milk is heated to 280 degrees Fahrenheit for two to four seconds.

Most organic milk has a longer shelf life than conventional milk, lasting up to 2 months rather than about two weeks. This is because of the ultra-pasteurization, AKA ultra-high temperature (UHT) treatment, which superheats the milk and reduces susceptibility to bacterial growth.

Because hormones like estrogen are fat-soluble, the level of hormones is higher in whole milk than in skim milk. Organic milk, however, contains about the same amount of hormones as conventionally produced milk.

What is the healthiest milk to drink? ›

Dairy milks typically have the most nutritional value. Among the plant options, soy milk comes closest to the nutritional profile of cow's and goat's milks. Many plant-based milks are lower in saturated fat and calories than cow's milk.

Organic milk is supposed to never contain antibiotics or synthetic growth hormones, and typically has no pesticide residue (though technically some could drift onto organic crops from neighboring fields). Organic cows are also given more time outdoors to eat and, you know, be cows.

By separating cow and calf early, the farmer can ensure that the calf receives adequate colostrum (the first milk which is important for calf health). 1. A cow that is together with her calf produces more milk.

Separating mothers and babies

In heart-wrenching scenes, cows have been witnessed chasing after a trailer carrying their calf away. Mothers have been known to grieve for days after their calf is removed, bellowing loudly in distress. To make matters worse, dairy cows are kept almost continually impregnated.

Overall, soy, oat, hemp, and pea milks are more eco-friendly choices than almond or rice milk. To help strengthen your environmental decisions, choose plant-based milks that come in a recyclable container. This will help reduce waste.

While organic milk offers a natural and potentially nutrient-rich option, it comes at a higher cost. Regular milk, being more affordable, may have the drawbacks of synthetic additives and environmental impact.

In ultrapasteurization, milk is heated to 280° Fahrenheit for two seconds. In traditional pasteurization, milk is heated to 161° Fahrenheit for 15 seconds. This higher rate of heating caramelizes some of the sugars in milk and sweetens the flavor, making it taste different than milk that has not been ultrapasteurized.

Grassmilk provided by far the highest level of omega-3s (0.05 grams per 100 grams of milk), compared to 0.02 g/100 g in conventional milk; a 147 percent increase in omega-3s. Grassmilk also had 52 percent less omega-6 than conventional milk, and 36 percent less omega-6 than organic milk.