Milk and Cream
Once touted as the essential liquid of life, milk is now the subject of criticism from environmentalists and nutritionists alike. Producing milk puts stress on both cows and the environment: a typical dairy farm milks its cows about 300 days per year, and according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, cattle emit about 5.5 million metric tons of methane per year. Consuming milk has also been linked to increased incidences of heart disease and hormone-related cancer. Organically-produced milk is not free from these concerns, since the term “organic” applies to the type of feed the cows ingest, not the milking process. Organic cows consume feed that was grown without the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. The milk is also free from traces of antibiotics, since “sick” cows can no longer be used for milk. Research shows that organic milk has about 71% more Omega-3, 50% more Vitamin E, 75% higher beta carotene, and three times the antioxidants than conventional milk. Drinking organic soymilk eliminates the health and ethical concerns associated with dairy milk, but some soybeans can be genetically modified, and aren’t always grown nearby. Soy beans can contain estrogen-like compounds as well as high levels of aluminum, since the beans often need to be processed in an acid bath in aluminum tanks to remove anti-nutritive substances. This means that our overall scoring is relative—we acknowledge that there are potential concerns with both types of milk.
Natrel Nature 1% Pure Organic milk
May 2010
Natrel’s Pure Organic milk undergoes a filtering process that removes over 98 times more bacteria than milk that has only been pasteurized. Its organic plants are inspected once a year. This milk is produced in Quebec, where organic milk is pooled with milk from other dairies, just as non-organic milk is, then sent to manufacturers More >
Harmony Organic 1% milk
May 2010
Hearkening back to the days of the milkman, Harmony Organic milk and cream come in reusable glass bottles. Each bottle is expected to make 15 to 20 trips before being recycled, and the bottles are cleaned using hydrogen peroxide instead of chlorine. The milk is also available in cartons. Harmony Organic treats its cows with More >
So Nice Original Organic Soymilk
May 2010
All of So Nice’s organic varieties, which are clearly labelled with the Canada Organic label, contain more than 95% organic ingredients and GMO-free soybeans. Its 1.89 L carton packaging is SFI and FSC certified. The company claims to be the only soy producer to have manufacturing facilities in both Eastern and Western Canada, and its More >
Organic Meadow 1% milk
May 2010
Organic Meadow’s 1% milk has just become available in reusable bottles, but its cream still comes in a carton. As its brand suggests, both products are organic. Organic Meadow requires all of its farms to go through a four year transitional phase in order to be certified organic. Farmers also choose livestock species that are More >
