Hormones and antibiotics

Omega-3-enriched milk and dairy products were approved for sale by Health Canada in 2003. The health standards these products adhere to are the same as for regular milk. In Canada it is illegal to use growth hormones to stimulate milk production. Not so in the U.S., where synthetic growth hormones, called recombinant bovine somatotropin (RBST), are considered safe. Unlike in the U.S., no milk, cheese or yogurt produced in Canada contains artificial growth hormones. According to the Dairy Farmers of Canada website, all omega-3 milk produced on Canadian farms is tested for antibiotic residues when it arrives at the processing plant. An ill cow treated with antibiotics is removed from the herd until she has recovered and tests show that her milk is clear of the drugs. Milk that tests positive for antibiotic traces beyond Health Canada’s permissible maximum residue limits (MRL) is discarded. According to Health Canada’s website, the allowed MRL amount is very small and does not pose adverse health effects if ingested.