Hormonal Milk Poses Greater Risks
Than Just Twinning -- by Samuel Epstein,
M.D.
CHICAGO, June 27 , 2007(AScribe
Newswire) -- Following is commentary by
Samuel S. Epstein, M.D., professor emeritus
of environmental and occupational medicine
at the University of Illinois at Chicago
School of Public Health and Chairman of the
Cancer Prevention Coalition. Epstein is
author of the new book, "What's in Your
Milk?"
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As widely covered in the national
media, a recent article by Dr. Gary Steinman
in The Journal of Reproductive Medicine
reported that women drinking milk and eating
dairy products from cows injected with
Monsanto's genetically engineered growth
hormone drug are up to five times more
likely to risk giving birth to fraternal
twins than non-dairy product vegans.
This news is hardly surprising.
Hormonal milk contains up to ten-fold
increased levels of the natural Insulin-like
Growth Factor, known as IGF, long known to
increase ovulation and twinning rates in
cows. The hormone also makes cows sick.
Monsanto has been forced to admit to 20
toxic veterinary effects on its drug label.
Monsanto has also recently
admitted that about one third of dairy cows
in the nation are now in herds where the
hormone is used.
Hormonal milk is very different
than natural milk. Hormonal milk is often
contaminated with pus cells, resulting from
mastitis in cows due to hyperstimulation of
milk production, and also with antibiotics
used to treat the mastitis. Other
abnormalities include increased fatty acids,
which are incriminated in heart disease.
More serious are major risks of
breast, colon, and prostate cancers due to
increased IGF levels in hormonal milk.
Evidence for this has been documented in
about 50 scientific publications over the
past three decades. Among them is the 1998
Harvard Nurses Health Study, based on a
follow-up of 300 healthy nurses. Those with
elevated IGF blood levels were shown to have
up to a seven-fold increased risk of breast
cancer.
A less well-recognized risk is
evidence that IGF blocks natural,
self-destructive, defense mechanisms against
early submicroscopic cancers, technically
known as apoptosis.
Acting on these lines of evidence,
a 1999 European Commission Report, by
internationally recognized experts,
concluded that avoidance of hormonal dairy
products in favor of natural organic
products "would appear to be the most
practical and immediate dietary intervention
to . . . achieve the goal of preventing
cancer." Warning of these risks were
confirmed in my 2002 publication in the
International Journal of Health Services,
endorsed by over 50 leading independent
experts in cancer prevention and public
health.
Of particular concern are risks to
infants and children in view of their high
susceptibility to cancer-causing products
and chemicals. Nevertheless, few schools
make organic milk available, nor do most
state governments, under low-income food
programs, particularly the Special
Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women,
Infants and Children.
Nevertheless, the Food and Drug
Administration remains indifferent to these
risks, in spite of Congressional concerns.
Illustrative is the 1986 report, "Human Food
Safety and Regulation of Animal Drugs," by
the House Committee on Government
Operations. This concluded that the "FDA has
consistently disregarded its
responsibility---has repeatedly put what it
perceives are interests of veterinarians and
the livestock industry ahead of its legal
obligations to protect
consumers--jeopardizing the health and
safety of consumers of meat, milk, and
poultry."
However, these risks are
avoidable. According to The Hartman Group, a
prominent Seattle consulting firm, organic
milk is now among the first organic product
that consumers buy. Organic milk is also
becoming increasingly available, with an
annual growth rate of about 20 percent,
while overall milk consumption is dropping
by about 10 percent.
Wal-Mart is now the biggest seller
of certified organic milk, followed by
Horizon Organic, owned by Dean Foods, the
nations largest dairy producer, and by
Groupe Danone, the leading French dairy
company. While growth in this market is
still held back by the higher price of
organic milk, this problem is likely to be
resolved by Wal-Mart's competitive pricing.
In sharp contrast to the U.S., 24
European nations, Norway, Switzerland, New
Zealand, Japan, and Canada have banned the
use and imports of hormonal milk and dairy
products. However, in spite of the ban,
Canada imports over 20 percent of its total
dairy products from the U.S., without any
restrictions.
Our government has failed to warn
its citizens of the dangers of hormonal
milk. The media could now play a critical
role in alerting the nation to these
avoidable dangers.
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CONTACT: Samuel Epstein, M.D.,
epstein@uic.edu, 312-996-2297
NOTE TO EDITORS: The above
commentary is available for free and
immediate use. If used, please contact
Samuel Epstein.
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