US "milk" in Canada can't legally be called milk.

LaurierGirl28

I also posted this on the PCE board, but I thought some GL peeps might find this interesting. In Canada, we do not allow US milk to be sold. It does not meet our requirements because it has too many banned substances (largely hormones).Lately I have noticed that there is something on our shelves called "chocolate dairy beverage" that is shelved with the chocolate milk. I curiously asked the stockperson what it was, and he explained it is the US way around our loophole. They can't sell milk here. But they can sell "dairy beverage" provided it has a warning. So it has a teensy tiny warning on the bottom.Fascinating. I won't touch the stuff, however

GRKaters

All the milk I've ever seen in our stores says it doesn't contain hormones. Where was Canada getting their "US milk" before? And what other banned substances is the US supposedly putting in its dairy beverages?

 

 

pixieprincss

"Dairy beverage" is also seen in the US--it is milk with loads of HFCS added, really only seen in prepared flavored milk (chocolate, strawberry, etc.). Unflavored milk is just milk and most milk I see is labeled rBst-free, though cheese is behind the curve on that.

Do you have a link to an article?

Jen&Joe06

I would think it has more to do the the Canadian Dairy Commission not wanting to lose their control over our milk market then there being "stuff" in the US milk.

uncannycanuck

Jen&Joe06:

I would think it has more to do the the Canadian Dairy Commission not wanting to lose their control over our milk market then there being "stuff" in the US milk.

Definitely some protectionism in it. Canada has a strict milk quota system. It has kept milk prices at a level that allow people to run dairy farms and make a profit.

I  wouldn't be shocked if our regulations varied, though. We never let rGBH shots be allowed for dairy cattle in the first place.

LaurierGirl28

Jen&Joe06:

I would think it has more to do the the Canadian Dairy Commission not wanting to lose their control over our milk market then there being "stuff" in the US milk.

Here are some differences betwween what is allowed in milk in Canada and the US.  

http://www.preventcancer.com/consumers/general/milk.htm 

http://www.natrel.ca/english/faq/faq_01b.html 

I definitely think that the MMB and CDC are certainly part of it. But at the end of the day, there are substances allowed in milk in the US that are not allowed in Canada. 

LaurierGirl28

GRKaters:

All the milk I've ever seen in our stores says it doesn't contain hormones. Where was Canada getting their "US milk" before? And what other banned substances is the US supposedly putting in its dairy beverages?

 

 

See the links that I posted. This highlights it well:

The use of artificial growth hormones or hormones to increase lactation (RBST, BST, RGBH or any other artificial growth hormone) are illegal in Canada. They are legal in the United States. 

 

CDMay2006

If it was because of contaminants, only, then organic US milk should be available there...

treesapplaud

After enjoying the Swedish milk, I always pay for the organic stuff in the States. Makes a difference taste wise.

Sweden has very strict standards and no RGBH (or similar substances) are allowed. 

Jen&Joe06

Plus we have the really cool rap milk commercials.

SuperGreen

This is why I always buy organic dairy products above everything else, and I never send DH out for milk, butter, or cheese.  There is some scary stuff in U.S. milk and he never remembers to buy organic b/c it's kept in a different place in our grocery store.  We're seriously considering joining a "cow share,"  which is how we could get milk from local farmers.  They're not allowed to sell the milk directly, but I can buy a share of their cow.  The udder apparently

LaurierGirl28

Jen&Joe06:

Plus we have the really cool rap milk commercials.

Yep, I'm pretty sure those are unique to Ontario.

Every time i see one I cringe. 

PurposelyVague

does it apply to US organic milk too?

annabelle.27

treesapplaud:

After enjoying the Swedish milk, I always pay for the organic stuff in the States. Makes a difference taste wise.

Sweden has very strict standards and no RGBH (or similar substances) are allowed. 

OMG Sweden has awesome dairy products. My husband and I loooooved the yogurt when we were there.

Pescalita

LaurierGirl28:

GRKaters:

All the milk I've ever seen in our stores says it doesn't contain hormones. Where was Canada getting their "US milk" before? And what other banned substances is the US supposedly putting in its dairy beverages?

 

 

See the links that I posted. This highlights it well:

The use of artificial growth hormones or hormones to increase lactation (RBST, BST, RGBH or any other artificial growth hormone) are illegal in Canada. They are legal in the United States. 

 

Yeah this smacks of protectionism cloaked in a health issue. There is plenty of milk made in the US w/o hormones. Just because it's legal doesn't mean it's in every glass.

Tambcat

LaurierGirl28:

  Fascinating. I won't touch the stuff, however

Good thing! All of our "milk" will kill you! lol

kris_123

Gulp!  I've been making day trips to the States to buy groceries, especially dairy products because they are so much cheaper.  I don't find the milk tastes as good but at 1.99$ a galon compared to 5.30$ for 3 litres, I'll take my chances with the cheap stuff!

foundmylazybum

Tambcat:

LaurierGirl28:

 Fascinating. I won't touch the stuff, however

Good thing! All of our "milk" will kill you! lol

Let's go to Vermont and get married. We'll buy an udder and live happily ever after.  

barkers4jmm

Hey SG - I'm going to get delivery from South Mountain Creamery.  I'm not sure they deliver to Chantilly, but I think they're at the Vienna Farmer's Market.  (if the udder share doesn't work out)

http://www.southmountaincreamery.com/

 

littlemommy1

So does Canada not import meat from the US either? It's all loaded with the same crap!

LaurierGirl28

I have no idea. I only buy local, organic meat. No exceptions.