MOOOOOO

Hello,

My name is "bwings" and I don't feed my daughter hormones.

My daughter was breastfed until 14 months and then switched over to formula. She has the occasional sippy with milk but only when there are not other pleasant options. Although I could preach, "We are the only species that feed off another species breastmilk" but I needn't give you visuals of suckling on a cow's utter, and it's not the reason I don't feed her milk.

In actuality it was something that Asmerus wanted and I agreed with. Cows in factories are injected with countless chemicals and as a result we did not feel comfortable feeding standard milk to her until she was older, if at all. However, for my American friends you may already be aware that in the states bovine are injected with hormones to increase milk production. Bovine growth hormones also known as Bovine Somatotropin (rBST)  injected into bovine often leads to utter infections, resulting in antibiotics and multiple other treatments and injections. A cocktail of chemicals you would never inject a toddler with yet we fill their sippy with the juices from these walking syringes on a regular.

So what's a mom to do? If you live outside the United States you have far less to worry about, buy local, avoid American labels. If you are concerned with the additional chemicals or the vegan aspect there are organic options or milk alternatives such as Soy Milk or Rice Milk. However, if you are in the United States, as long as the FDA continues to approve growth hormone injections it will be in your milk and beef. Look for labels with the words, "no artificial hormones" on them. All milk has hormones, so anything labeled "Hormone free" is incorrect and should be brought to the manufacturers attention for misleading information. Labeling of injected milk and rBST free milk is not required by FDA and so in some cases you might have to research the company providing the milk. Wal-mart, Kroger and Costco have pledged not to sell milk from rBST injected cows.

I recovered a list of some others that I hope may help our friends south of the border.

• Ben & Jerry's ice cream is rBST free.
• Braum's 
• Chipolte Mexican Grill only serves rBST-free sour cream.
• Kroger & Ralphs have banned rBST milk since 2008
• Publix rBST free since 2007.
• Safeway have been rBST free since 2007.
• Starbucks free since 2008
• Wal-mart & Sam's Club provide "Great Value" brand which has been rBST for years but labeled free since 2008
• Winder Farms a home delivery dairy and grocer in Utah and Nevada sells only rBST free milk.

You can also check by state to see what is in your area for rBST free products.

Oh, and wouldn't you know it, it's the 3rd day of Christmas. *cough* ♫ On the 3rd day of Christmas a hippie brought to me a flip-flop door mat.♫ A flip-flop door mat? Yes, that's what I said. A flip-flop doormat. Simply put it is a colorful doormat made out of reused, pre-loved footwear.

Happy shopping, your friendly neighborhood hippie mom.