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Buy organic cheese regularly

Why This is Green

Organic cheese is made with milk from organic animals. Makes sense but what does that really mean? USDA organic standards can be confusing. Basically, animals must have freedom of movement and access to the outdoors, be fed 100 percent organic feed produced without the use of pesticides, insecticides, or genetic engineering, and free from sewage sludge and animal derived proteins. (When cattle eat scraps of cattle—gross--is when mad cow disease becomes a concern.) No antibiotics or added hormones are allowed.

Most conventional dairy cows are given rBGH (recombinant bovine growth hormone, also known as rBST)—to stimulate milk production. rBGH is banned due to health concerns all over the world—the European Union, Japan, Canada, Australia--but not stateside. The Cancer Prevention Coalition, the American Public Health Association, and others have asked our government to ban these hormones over links to breast, colon, and prostate cancers.

A recent study from Newcastle University found that milk from organic cows has higher levels of vitamins, antioxidants and healthy fat; grass boosts the nutritional value. Keep in mind that certified organic cheese doesn’t necessarily come from 100 percent grass-fed animals. In 2010, the USDA revised their rules regarding access to pasture for organic livestock operations because there were too many loopholes.

Learn More

How To

Organic cheese is widely available: at the deli counter as well as pre-packaged. Look for the USDA certified organic label; "natural" or rBGH free aren’t third party certified claims.

Shop farmers’ markets and cheese stores, too. Taste until you find an organic cheese you like—what a hardship.