The difference between organic and conventional milk is about as straightforward as it gets: organic implies cows grazing in an open field, free of hormones and antibiotics. Or does it? A few years ago, Horizon Organic (a brand of Dean Foods) and Aurora Organic Dairy (a provider of private-label milk to retailers including Wal-Mart and Costco) were investigated by the USDA due to complaints that they were not fully following this protocol. Although both milk giants currently have the green light for producing milk as organic, Aurora still faces several class action law-suits.
So, buyer beware: not all organic milk is created equal. Yet organic milk that is certain to delight is readily available in health food stores or sometimes even major supermarkets. Organic Valley, the nation’s largest and oldest cooperative of organic family farmers, is one such option. Natural by Nature, a family-owned business that produces 100% of its milk from family-owned farms, is another excellent choice. Their milk will not only please the palate, but you can be sure you are paying a premium for a reason.
Glaceau took their creative minds one step further and developed Vitamin Energy: vitamins and caffeine in a can. So maybe they’ve one-up’ed Red Bull with the vitamin supplement, but stick to organic tea or coffee for an energy boost. Once again, the vitamins found in the drink are better-off absorbed from their original sources.
