Dairy supply safe?

[Davis]

Has anyone wondered if dairy cows have been fed anything tainted?  We all know how easily toxins or any substance passes into the milk of mammals.  We really don't know for sure what is in the dairy feed or where all the ingredients come from, do we?  If anyone has any reassuring information, please post it.

[Annette]

I believe there are restrictions on what can be fed to ruminants (including cows and sheep) due to the mad cow scare...but I am no expert on the subject ;-)

[Davis]

Yes, but I don't believe this would apply to the grains they are being fed and where they are sourced from.  I'm also wondering about the possibility of high protein types of grain products as dairy feed.

[willyagogo]

Cheers Everyone!

Regarding the Dairy supply......I have a question that maybe a few of you would like to add their views to...here goes....

Have you ever seen such a RISE in reports of people Being Lactose Intolerant as say...in the past decade or so? Kinda' makes ya' wonder doesn't it?

Back in the late 80's-early 90's,....I only knew of one person that had that problem. Now it seems like 1 out of every 10 people has it!

Coincidence?......

[Cindy Nevarez]

So what are your theories about it Willy?

[willyagogo]

Hi Cindy.....

I'm not so sure that I have any theories.......it's just an observation I guess.

But if I was to make a theory....I guess I'd be questioning the feed that SOME dairy farms have been using for the past while......(like maybe the last 10-15 yrs?..you know what I'm getting at?)

Maybe it's in the processing...I have no idea really......I was just wondering if anyone else had made the same observation....and had some inside knowledge on that particular industry that had anything to share on this subject.....

[Cindy Nevarez]

Well, we DO have a problem with lactose intolerance in this house with both my husband and daughter. We attribute it to the fact that he is Mexican/ Native American, and of course our daughter is half that. Those populations historically do better with goat-milk products.

Anyway, I found that when I get "unadulterated" cow-dairy products, and yogurt, they don't suffer. So I get a lot of those things at health-food stores.

BTW, I started buying non-anti biotic, non-hormone fed milk years and years ago when Trader Joes announced they were going to start selling that kind.

For cereal eating though, they use soy milk. I go back and forth between the 2 types.

[willyagogo]

Cindy....

That's very interesting.......I've never had soy milk my self.......is there much of a difference in the taste?I currently drink 2% milk....and boy I love the stuff!!! I love milk!!!!....and other yummy dairy products of course!!!....

[Cindy Nevarez]

Yes, unfortunately there's a LOT of difference in taste. If you are determined to find one you like though...you can, but it's going to be an adventure! On top of that everyone in the house doesn't agree which one is best!

Personally I look for the ones with no added sugar, and without the use of Calcium Carbonate (it's no different from chalk to me, so I look for ones with other kinds of calcium), which leaves lumps and a powdery texture and taste.

Some people go for the flavors vanilla, chocolate...etc. since they don't like the taste of the soy by itself. I don't like these kinds at all, as they taste sickeningly sweet to me.

[Mary K]

I have been drinking soy milk for several years. I wouldn't drink a ton of it, though, and if you are thinking of switching, go for organic and non-GM. I have read that girls reach puberty a few years sooner now because of the hormones in cow's milk; but soy milk has phyto-estrogens, too!

[Cindy Nevarez]

Good point. I've also heard of some pre-mature balding in very young men related to hormones too.

[JJ]

I have been drinking soy milk for several years. I wouldn't drink a ton of it, though, and if you are thinking of switching, go for organic and non-GM. I have read that girls reach puberty a few years sooner now because of the hormones in cow's milk; but soy milk has phyto-estrogens, too!

Here is a site with a lot of information covering soy. Anyone using it should read this and form your own opinion. The site is: dogtorJ.com They also cover the pet recalls and a ton of helpful information.