Milk and dairy in the UK

Hi all!

Can someone tell me if milk in the UK comes from cows that have been treated with growth hormones?  Except for organic, of course.  I don't know if it is different in England than in the States, and am thinking I should be doing strictly organic dairy, as I would at home. But I have also read that BGH (bovine growth hormone) is banned in most countries including throughout Europe.  So if that is the case, should I spend the extra money to buy organic milk here. I already buy only organic chicken, though it is ridiculously expensive.  But we eat a LOT of chicken, and I am concerned about the hormones in the chicken, considering the amount we eat.

Thanks for any input!

I personally would just stick with the Organic milk if I were you.  I don't know specifically about BGH, but I try and only buy organic for my toddler.  It's only about £0.30 more per bottle than regular for the biggest size (4 pints I think).  Just puts my mind at ease for not that much money.

There has been a moratorium (banning) on BGH in the EU since 2000 and is not in use in the UK or any member country.

Council of the European Union Declaration & Wiki.

I'd stick with organic too - it's more than just the health benefits for you, and the feed the cows are on.  Organic dairy cows have a much higher standard of welfare than their non-organic counterparts (in the US they're in concrete pens rather than green fields, don't know about here).  Same for chickens - it's not just about hormones, it's about being free-range and not packed into dark sheds in their own filth.  Everything goes wrong whenever human beings cut corners...

Not all conventional dairy cows in the US are kept in concrete pens with no access to the outside.  I come from dairy country, and I have never seen the practice of keeping cows in sheds with no access to the outside world.  Organic standards for welfare and other standards really depend on the standards of the organisation certifying them.  Sometimes this leads to better environmental, animal, and human rights practices, but sometimes not.

Grass-fed cows give better ratios for omega 3 fatty acids which most people in the western world lack due to their excessive consumption of omega 6 FA due to their reliance on grains and seed oils in their own cooking or processed foods.  

I use organic milk, but I don't always get organic cheese or cream.  I actually don't think the cream tastes as good, at least Sainsbury's organic always seems a bit off.  

It really depends on what item I am buying in general if I bother with organic.  Apples yes, something like onions, not so much.

Thank you, all!    Organic it is, then . . .  Good point about being grass fed, too . . .