A gallon of creamy, cool milk is sitting in the fridge of almost every American family as we talk. Milk is one of the most adaptable essential ingredients in our kitchens. This is regardless of whether you are pouring over breakfast cereal or added to recipes. However, cow’s milk has had a bad reputation in recent years. However, due to the growing popularity of alternative milk, there is a lot to enjoy about the old standby.
Milk contains key minerals in it. These include Vitamin A, B12, calcium, and magnesium. Most dairy milk is also fortified with vitamin D, which is not readily available in food. You will understand that vitamin D also plays a vital function in our immune system. This vitamin is actually good for bone health and mood regulation, among other things.
You have seen all these benefits that come with milk and you are wondering which milk is the best. Worry no more. In this article, we will dive into all brands available and give you the best organic milk brand that you can take advantage of.
How to Choose a Healthy Organic Milk Brand?
Milk is available at practically every place that offers consumable goods. This ranges from supermarkets and big box stores to your neighborhood corner. However, this does not mean that all production is equally done. If you are looking to buy the healthiest milk, there are several factors to check for. Below is a simple highlight of them;
Look for grass-fed, organic options
Studies show that cows fed on grass produce milk with higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids. These fatty acids are helpful to heart and brain health. Anything that is not organic contains some percentage of inorganic substances. So, for milk to be organic, cows must have received at least 30% of their diet from grass. Organic substances are less toxic to the human body. This will qualify the milk to be healthy.
Select A2 over A1
It is most likely that these two terms are new to you. Actually, some have never encountered these tags before. But, if you drink milk regularly, you should be aware of what they signify. A1 and A2 refer to the subtypes of beta-casein protein found in dairy. Certain cows produce such types of milk. For example, A2 cow’s milk comes from cattle breeds like Jersey or Guernsey breeds. This A2 milk is less inflammatory. Most of the cow milk that you will find on the store shelves is actually A1 cow’s milk. So, if you are looking for a healthy organic milk brand, choose A2 cow milk.
Do your research on rBGH
rBGH is an abbreviation for Recombinant bovine growth hormone. It has been commonly given to dairy cattle for over decades now. This is despite its frequent cause for health problems in animals.
It does not only affect animals but people. The effect is normally passed from animals to people who drink animal milk treated with rBGH. The best advice is to avoid the milk from such kinds of animals. You may get confused by the rBGH-free label on milk packets. But this doesn’t guarantee that your milk is indeed free. So, ensure that the milk product did not come from cows treated with rBGH. Note that there may be other antibiotics or GMO products given to the animal if it is not rBGH.
Proceed to use whole milk
There are a lot of theories surrounding whole milk. For a long time, people were normally advised to avoid whole milk with high-fat content. However, this is no longer the best advice you can get about whole milk. Researchers say the literature does not support dietary advice to avoid fat dairy. Research says that there is no link between full-fat dairy and increased diabetes. This also includes other diseases associated with it, cardiovascular disease or obesity. Furthermore, not only does full-fat milk taste better, but more nutritious. This is because of the high-fat level that may also help avoid later overeating.
Why Organic Dairy Differ from Brand to Brand
Organic dairy farms most vary across the whole country. There are a lot of factors that bring about these differences such as the size and cultivation methods used by farmers. This becomes a major problem in the industry. There is always the urge that there should be general access to healthy food options. This entails making all this healthy food available in all grocery shops and mega marts.
United States has a lot of middle and working-class people. So, it is critical to have all these essential products inexpensive. When you compare these factors, you will see a lot of discrepancies. This creates large voids that are ideal for big businesses.
However, every business entity is in the market to make money. So, for them to save money, they will look for loopholes possible to avoid rules. This definitely results in the production of low-quality milk products. This demands for independent and trustworthy institutions like The Cornucopia Institute to help.
Such institutes conduct the onerous work of finding and confirming the materials guarded. They disseminate this information to give consumers more capacity to persuade market correction. In summary, they provide you with the knowledge you need to vote with your dollar. In an idealistic world, we would all buy food from the most ethical farmers. This is if we have the highest level of localization.
Top 10 Healthiest Organic Milk Brand Reviews
Picking the correct milk brand can be challenging. Most likely when you walk into the shop and see many options. But that should not give you a headache. We evaluated the majority of the dairy milk brands available in the market. This is to help you make a healthy decision. The following is a list of the top 10 milk brands in the United States;
1. Dean’s Dairy Pure Brand
Dean’s Daily Pure is a prominent milk brand and a household name in the US dairy sector. This brand became operational in 1925. The company holds more than 100 production facilities in the United States. You do not need to worry about the sources of the milk. It is normally sourced from healthy, grass-fed cows. This is not only a US-based milk brand, you can find it in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, France, and Belgium. It is actually one of the famous organic milk production brand in the United States.
2. Borden Dairy Brand
It is the first company in the United States to get a condensed milk production license. In addition, it is the first company to employ glass milk bottles. Gail Borden Jr. began the company in 1857. It has since produced a wide range of items that millions of Americans enjoy. You do not have to be out of this movement of Borden Dairy brand by other Americans. Borden Dairy headquarters are in Texas. It has also 12 dairy milk processing units and roughly 100 branches around the United States.
3. Wegmans Brand
Another name that may come to mind when considering buying top-shelf milk is Wegmans. This brand is well-known for its organic milk that is low in fat and high in nutrients. Wegmans has approximately 100 locations in several states across the United States. It has one of the largest taskforces with over 58,000 individuals working for the company. According to Fortune, the corporation is the third-best firm to work for. The company’s headquarters are in New York.
4. HP Hood Brand
If you have ever heard about HP computers, this will not be new to you. Harvey Perley Hood created HP Hood, a private dairy enterprise, in 1846. HP Hood has its headquarters located in Lynnfield, Massachusetts. HP Hood has been in the milk business for many years. It employs over 3,000 people across the country. This makes it to be one of the greatest dairy milk brands in the United States. This brand is actually known for its health advantages and high nutritional content. It not only deals with milk. The other product includes cheese, yogurt, ice cream, juice, and beverages.
5. Darigold Brand
Darigold is well-known for its popular and nutritious milk. It is well-known for its innovative business concept. This is in comparison with other brands in the industry. The company is not an individual entity. It is brand co-owned by 500 dairy farmers across the country. Its mission is to provide pure, healthy, and entirely organic branded milk. Darigold produces eight billion pounds of grass-fed milk each year. It has annual sales of more than $2 billion. Besides, it is one of the major grass-fed milk brands in the US. So, it is not an exaggeration to claim that Darigold is a leading cooperative firm in the US dairy sector.
6. Shamrock Farms Brand
Shamrock Farms is a milk company that derives its milk from cows raised on its own family farms. The cows are purely graced from organic grassland. The brand is a Phoenix, Arizona-based company owned by the McClelland family. It is actually the Southwest’s largest dairy company. The company began with only 20 cows in 1922 and has since grown to approximately 10,000 cows. This itself is a genuinely inspiring success story. It has one of the prominent milk brands across the country.
7. Organic Valley Brand
Just a few would trust a story of a company like Organic Valley Brant. It started as a small agricultural cooperative. As of now, it is now ranked first on a list of the best grass-fed milk brands. It is actually the world’s largest organic consumer brand. It has over 1800 farms in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada. The company has offices in all 50 states of the United States. This shows how reliable it is. Additionally, it exports its products to 25 different countries. Experts in health and nutrition advocate Organic Valley’s milk especially for toddlers. This is because it accelerates their growth by providing nutritional demands. This is in a more effective manner possible compared to other brands.
8. Promised Land Dairy Brand
Some of the brand’s start stories are a motivation. Promised Land Dairy Brand has one of these stories. It began in 1987 on a small farm in Texas with a few Jerseys grass-fed cows. Today, it has grown into a huge dairy corporation. It makes high-quality milk that is abundant in protein. Also, the milk is rich in calcium and creamy texture. Additionally, the milk is available in a variety of flavors. They range from midnight chocolate to traditional eggnog. These flavors are all based on their original unique ice cream recipes. A glass of Promised Land Dairy contains 15-18% more calcium and 15-20% more protein. This is more than a standard glass of milk.
9. Schreiber Foods Brand
Schreiber Foods Incorporation began as a cheese firm in 1945. It has since expanded into other dairy products such as milk and yogurt. There has been a spontaneous growth since then. In 2020, the company become known for producing high-quality milk. The milk is neither overly sweet nor overly bland in flavor. It is an employee-owned business with headquarters in Green Bay, Wisconsin. It is among the companies with a high number of employees. It has over 7000 people that operate over 12 manufacturing plants. All these plants are in eight states across the country.
10. Horizon Organic Brand
This is one of the renowned brands in the United States. Horizon Organic company come into operation in 1991. Since then, it is among North America’s largest organic milk brand. Horizon Organic has undoubtedly maintained its supremacy over its competitors in Maryland. This is now for over 30 years. It has over 700 dairies in the region. Its milk products are devoid of antibiotics and pesticides. Its milk stays fresh for up to seven days after you open the container.
FAQ – Frequently Asked Question
What is the difference between organic milk and regular milk?
The key difference between organic milk and regular milk
- Organic milk is pasteurized with ultra-high temperature (UHT) processing. UHT involves heating the milk to 280 degrees Fahrenheit. This is about 138 degrees Celsius for 2-4 seconds.
- Regular milk is pasteurized using the conventional procedure. This involves heating the milk to around 160 F (71 C) for at least 15 seconds.
Should I only drink organic milk?
Regular milk is subject to stringent federal safety requirements. This makes it a safe and healthy option for everyone. Choose organic milk if you want the added reassurance of a certified product. The only challenge with it is more expensive.
Does organic milk have to be refrigerated?
Both shelf-stable and refrigerated Horizon milk are organic. Shelf-stable milk may be safely stored without refrigeration. This is because of the higher temperature pasteurization and specific packaging. This makes you choose either refrigerating or not. Both are safe for everyone considering there are brands that can stay for long after opening.
Is it worthwhile to buy organic milk?
Many health experts believe that organic dairy is quite well worth the extra money. This is because it includes no growth hormones or antibiotics. The manufacturing process is more sustainable and compassionate than other dairy farming practices. If you love your health, do not spare your coin at the expense of it.
How can you tell if organic milk is bad?
There are several indicators that your organic milk is bad. Spoiled milk has a distinctively sour odor due to the production of lactic acid by bacteria. A slightly yellow tint and a lumpy texture are also symptoms of rotting. A foul smell and flavor, as well as a change in color, are all indications that your milk has deteriorated. When you observe such signs know the milk is no longer safe to consume.
Final Recap
No matter whatever brand of milk you buy, it is a good idea to read the label to find out the ingredients in it. Keep in mind that some dairy manufacturers use additives in their products. Also, others use sweeteners. So, a little research might help you avoid the negative health effects of such companies. The list above is safe for your health. This is because they are free chemicals. Other substances exclusive of the brands include additives, pesticides, and artificial sweeteners. If you are on a tight budget, choose whole milk such as Borden or Dean’s Daily Pure. Otherwise, if you can pay more money, you should choose organic milk brand.