Startling health news for grass based and organic milk backs Government vision for high quality future for farming
As Michael Gove launched the Government’s vision for a high quality, high welfare future for British farming, a major new international research study reveals that traditional and organic dairy farms which feed cows diets that are all or mainly grass, produce milk that is significantly healthier.
The international research project involved scientists from the USA, UK, Australia and Denmark1. The researchers have found that organic milk has 62% more omega-3 than non-organic milk2, and organic milk has 17% more CLA (conjugated linoleic acid)3 than non-organic. All grass-fed diets for dairy cows improve levels of omega-3 and CLA even more4.
The researchers note that there are ‘well-established metabolic and cardiovascular benefits of omega-3 fatty acids and CLA’, and that ‘there are additional benefits for pregnant and lactating women, infants, and children’. They also note that ‘omega-3 fatty acids play critical roles in the development of eyes, the brain, and the nervous system’ and that ‘adequate omega-3 intakes can also slow the loss of cognitive function among the elderly’.
Previous studies have shown that consuming organic beef or organic dairy products lowers dietary intakes of omega-6, while increasing intakes of omega-3 and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), another valuable, heart-healthy fatty acid5. Organic dairy has also been found to contain slightly higher concentrations of iron, vitamin E and some carotenoids5. The European Food Safety Authority has recommended that we need to increase our intake of omega-36.
Peter Melchett, Soil Association Policy Director said: “This exciting new research confirms that Michael Gove is right to emphasise in the Government’s new agricultural consultation paper that ‘The food we eat affects our health and well-being’. Organic systems, which guarantee dairy cows are fed at least 60% of their diet on fresh grass, hay or silage, will produce nutritionally superior milk. Organic labels guarantee that cows will always have a high proportion of grass in their diet, especially compared to cows kept indoors all year round with food brought to them, and no outdoor grazing. Organic standards say that as well as at least 60% of an organic cow’s diet being grass, cows must graze outdoors whenever conditions allow.”
Industry experts have already urged retailers to offer their customers more organic dairy products as consumers become more discerning about food provenance and taste7. UK organic dairy sales grew by 3% in 2017.
Helen Browning, Soil Association Chief Executive, noted that the Agriculture Consultation Paper says little about food or human health, or crucial mechanisms such as public procurement, but that the Government have said they will cover this in a separate ‘food plan’ in due course.
Omega 3: 078gms of Omega 3 per 8oz serving of organic milk compared to 0.048gms per 8oz serving of non-organic milk.
Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA): 055gms of CLA per 8oz serving of organic milk compared to 0.047gms per serving for non-organic.
All-grass fed cows provide the highest level of Omega 3s—0.05 grams per 100 grams of milk (g/100 g), 0.03 per 100 grams in organic, and 0.02 g/100 g in conventional milk - a 147% increase in Omega 3 for all-grass fed cows. All-grass fed cows also have the highest average level of CLA—0.043 g/100 g of milk, compared to 0.019 g/ 100 g in conventional milk and 0.023 g/100 g in organic.
Srednicka-Tober et al. (2016) Higher PUFA and omega-3 PUFA, CLA, a-tocopherol and iron, but lower iodine and selenium concentrations in organic milk: a systematic literature review and meta- and redundancy analyses. British Journal of Nutrition February 2016; http://research.ncl.ac.uk/nefg/QOF
Milk and dairy products are major dietary sources for omega-3 fatty acids, especially for individuals, who eat little or no meat or fish. The average intakes of VLC omega-3 fatty acids from typical western diets are far too low and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) therefore recommends that consumers double their VLC omega-3 intake to at least 250 mg per day. EFSA also recommend that the VLC omega-3 intake (especially of DHA) is increased by 100-200 mg per day in pregnant and breast feeding women.
