By now, you have probably encountered the debate over growth hormones in food on the news, so as a concerned health-minded consumer, what do you really need to know? If you eat beef or drink cow’s milk, read the short history of recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH), below to educate yourself on its potential hazards so that you can make the most informed purchases possible. After all, what you put inside your body affects everything else in your life.

A Quick and Dirty History of rBGH

The growth hormone that most people are referring to when they talk about meat and dairy products is rBGH or rBST. These acronyms stand for recombinant bovine growth hormone and recombinant bovine somatotropin. Basically, it is a synthesized (artificial) hormone created by agricultural powerhouse Monsanto.

The scientists at Monsanto used recombinant D.N.A. technology to create a hormone that is the copy of the naturally-occurring one found in cows. It is patented and its name is Prosilac.

Monsanto has been in the news a lot lately. For instance, in January of this year, the Huffington Post reported that the Swiss research firm Covalence released its annual ranking of the overall ethical performance of multinational companies. Monsanto was voted the number 1 spot at “The Least Ethical Company in the World.”

Use of rBGH is not the only reason that Monsanto was voted to this spot. They also have a history of suing small, independent farmers for patent infringement when they are found to be using Monsanto’s genetically-engineered seed.

You see, when naturally-occurring items like seeds are genetically engineered and patented and then found on another farmer’s lot, this could be seen as theft of property.

Now that you know a little about the company that produces rBGH, we will move onto how it affects cows. RBGH is injected into cows right before their lactate threshold is reached so that they can continue to produce milk far beyond the time period it would naturally occur.

In doing this, a cow can produce up to 10% more milk than without rBGH. It boosts how quickly and how long the cows grow. Consequently, milk output is also increased.

Cows treated with rBGH show an increase in lameness (50%), udder infections (25%) and serious fertility problems. To counteract the udder infections, which raises the pus in the milk by 20%, farmers administer antibiotics to the cows.

The antibiotics are absorbed into the cow’s blood and milk and also accumulate in the waste runoff that subsequently drains into nearby water systems. The runoff from feedlots then ends up in the local waterways near the farm and has had negative consequences for the local ecology.

Mutations in fish have become commonplace near dairy farms. For instance, biologists have found female fish with male characteristic mutations and male fish with female characteristic mutations. Scientists believe that the growth hormone may play a part in this development.

In terms of human consumption, when people consume the same antibiotics consistently it allows for antibiotic resistant bacteria to develop.

So, if one were to consume a certain level of antibiotics in their milk consistently over time, then that type of antibiotic would have less or no impact when needed to treat a human bacterial infection. This undermines the usefulness of antibiotics used to treat human bacterial infections.

One of the hot button issues surrounding dairy production is the increased levels of a hormone called “insulin-like growth factor-1” (IGF-1) found in cows treated with rBGH. IGF-1 has been proven to promote cell division, a necessary precursor to cancer. It has been traced in elevated amounts to cows that are treated with rBGH.

IGF-1 can survive the digestive process, meaning it can be transferred from the cow’s milk to humans. It can survive stomach acids and then continue on through the intestines and be absorbed by the body into the bloodstream. IGF-1 has been a factor in terminal illnesses like breast, prostate and colon cancers.

The agricultural companies counter these claims, stating that IGF-1 can be killed by the enzymes in the intestine and so should not be a concern for consumers.

George Tritsch, a former researcher at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, New York stated in response to these claims that, “…if the human digestive system destroyed all proteins, people would not have food allergies and many oral vaccines would not work. Complete destruction of the growth hormone in the stomach is not certain.”

It is also worth noting that the E.U. has banned importation of any beef from America since 1995 because of the nation’s use of hormones in beef production.

How can you avoid artificial hormones?

To start, most independently run family farms do not use artificial growth hormones on their livestock. If you buy your dairy and meat products from your local farmer’s market you can ask the farmer or someone from his establishment how he raises his cows.

If you shop at a supermarket, look for the “USDA-certified organic” label. Foods that have that sticker may not contain any artificial hormones. Be sure it says USDA, however, because many food companies are trying to capitalize on the recent public interest in healthful eating. Do not be fooled by labels like, “Natural” or “Fresh.” Look for the seal from the government to be sure that the farm has been reviewed by the Department of Agriculture.

Alternatively, you could start purchasing rice, almond, soy or hemp milk. All of these options are more sustainable than dairy farm production and there is no worry about growth hormones and antibiotics in production. They are lower in cholesterol and fat than dairy milk and can supply you with comparable amounts of vitamin D and calcium. The pricing structure is similar or even less than, that of dairy milk. Plus, they come in great tasting flavors like, chocolate, vanilla and almond.