Did you catch this article in the Huffington Post the other day? If not, read it now, or at least before you sit down to your next bowl of ice cream, which as you’ll learn, may be made with Monsanto’s artificial growth hormones. Yuck!
What are artificial growth hormones? They’re hormones given to cows on factory farms that make them produce much larger amounts of milk in shorter periods of time. Not only is this uncomfortable for the dairy cows (who often get mastitis, a infection of the udders which produces pus, which ends up in your milk products…sorry to be gross, but you deserve to know), but it also means that there are excess hormones in your milk…and your cheese, butter, yogurt, ice cream, etc. And while the U.S. continues to argue that drinking growth hormones is no problem, all 27 countries in the European Union, as well as New Zealand, Australia, Japan, and Canada, have banned growth hormones in dairy production because of the massive risks to human health (e.g. breast, colon, and prostate cancers). That’s reason enough for me to be careful about what dairy products I buy.
So, What Brands of Ice Cream Should I Avoid?
Breyer’s
Haagen Dazs
Baskin-Robbins
Any of the sub-brands of these companies
Many other store-brand ice creams
What Ice Creams Are Hormone-Free?
The only way to make sure that your ice cream is made with milk from healthy, pasture-grazing cows that lead happy lives is to buy organic ice cream. Preferably, organic brands that source their milk from small, independent dairy farmers who practice sustainable farming. Here are a few suggestions:
Alden’s Organic (pictured above)
Stonyfield Farm Ice Cream and Frozen Yogurt
Straus Family Creamery Ice Cream and Frozen Yogurt
Tillamook
Whole Foods Organic
Julie’s Organic
Ben & Jerry’s
Remember, just because these ice creams are organic, does not mean they’re not ultra-rich and high in calories, so as always, keep your portion size small and enjoy every bite!
For more info on why buying organic dairy products is a must, see here.
