More or less bottle?

31 August 2017 - By Graham Eyre

Milk:

What are some of the potential downsides of cow’s milk?

1) It contains saturated fat.

It’s worth noting that the different varieties of pasteurised milk (whole, semi-skimmed and skimmed) contain different amounts of fat, including saturated fat. Nothing wrong with fat, of course, and it does contain essential vitamins.

However, if you’re trying to cut down on calories or saturated fats it’s a good idea to go for lower-fat milks. Semi-skimmed, 1% fat and skimmed milks. They all contain the important nutritional benefits of milk, but are lower in fat. Of these options, skimmed milk is the lowest in fat.

 

2) It may contain hormones and antibiotics (if you’re drinking it in America).

Long story short, dairy farmers in the United States are permitted to give cows antibiotics and a synthetic hormone called recombinant bovine growth hormone in order to increase milk production. This practice is not allowed in the European Union, though it’s worth noting that natural hormones can be found in a wide range of both plant and animal based foods that we consume.

It goes without saying that cows sometimes require veterinary treatment for health problems. This may include hormones for reproductive issues, or antibiotics for disease. It stands to reason that just as in humans, antibiotics can play an important role in combating a bacterial infection and bringing animals back to full health.

However, the use of veterinary medicines is very carefully controlled by European law and, according to the UK Dairy Industry, milk is rigorously tested for traces of antibiotics to ensure that it is safe for consumption. Cows receiving antibiotics are milked separately from the rest of the herd to ensure that the milk does not enter the food chain.

 

What if you can’t drink cow’s milk?

Of course not everyone either wants to – or even can – drink milk.

Research shows that the rate of allergy to cow’s milk (a response of the immune system to the protein contained in the milk) and lactose intolerance, is much lower than often perceived by the public. However the effects (bloating, gastrointestinal discomfort, diarrhoea) can be unpleasant.

Plant-based alternatives to cow’s milk can be a godsend for anyone with food allergies or lactose intolerance, or people who follow a plant-based diet. But the market trend in recent years has been driven largely by consumers’ thirst for low-calorie, low-sugar, lactose-free substitutes to accompany their ‘good-for-you granolas’ and flat whites.

There’s a general perception that plant-based alternatives are more healthy and taste better than cow’s milk. So much so that dairy avoidance has become more of a mainstream lifestyle choice these days. To illustrate the power of consumer demand, Sainsbury’s recently doubled the range of non-dairy milk products it offers across around 300 of its stores by adding 18 new plant-based milks to its aisles.

However, the nutrition profile of each milk alternative varies widely, so different products appeal to people with different health priorities. And it’s important to note that just because something is called ‘milk’ does not mean it’s nutritious. This is in part the reason for the recent ruling by the European Court of Justice that plant-based foods cannot be sold in the European Union using terms such as milk, butter and cheese.

 

As with most things, the devil is in the detail. But as a rule of thumb, it’s better to opt for the unsweetened versions that have been fortified with important nutrients like calcium and vitamin D.

 

In the next post, which plant-based milk alternative is best?