Maine milk is among the freshest and highest quality in the nation.
Editor’s note: The Sun Journal has recently canceled the daily Health Capsules.

A series of Health Capsules appearing recently in the Sun Journal was extremely critical of cows’ milk, and contained erroneous information. We would like to set the record straight.

Cows’ milk and other dairy products (cheese and yogurt) are exceptionally nutritious foods, and play an important role in a healthy diet. The 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends three daily servings of fat-free milk or other equivalent dairy as part of a healthy diet in people older than 1 year of age (breast-feeding being the primary source of nutrition in infants).

Fat-free dairy products are natural foods providing nine essential nutrients, including: calcium, potassium, other minerals, vitamins A, D, and B12, and protein necessary for children’s growth and development.

Consuming the recommended servings of fat-free dairy foods in childhood and adolescence helps build stronger bones and reduces risk for obesity, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, and some cancers. The fortification of milk with vitamin D protects against a once common dietary disease – rickets.

Since the 1930s, milk has been the most inspected, tested and scrutinized food product of any on our grocery store shelves. Each dairy farm is inspected twice a year. Every dairy product produced in Maine is tested eight times per year. This includes tests for pasteurization, bacteria contamination, antibiotics (which are not permitted), and added water. Every dairy processing plant, laboratory, and milk truck are also inspected on a regular basis.

How does Maine rate? Maine dairy farmers and dairy processors consistently receive high marks in every category of testing. Maine also produces more milk than our residents consume (Maine milk is commonly exported to and sought after by other states), thus assuring our milk is among the freshest and highest quality in the nation.

We would like to refute some specific allegations made in the Health Capsules:

First, cows’ milk does not contain pus. Normal healthy milk does contain small numbers of white blood cells, which are naturally present in the udder and milk to help the cow fight infection. Milk is tested regularly for the number of white blood cells. If results show high levels, it is disallowed from being sold. Maine’s dairy products consistently test at levels well below the national limits.

Second, cows supplemented with recombinant bovine somatotropin (rBST) for augmenting milk production do not lose appreciable amount of body fat and their milk does not contain toxic residues.

Third, cows’ milk does not cause or contribute to ear infections. To the contrary, dairy provides essential nutrients that contribute to our overall health, which includes our immune system that helps ward off infections.

Unfortunately, Americans are getting only half of the recommended three servings of dairy we need daily. As children in our country increase in age, less nutritious beverages such as carbonated soft drinks and fruit drinks, are replacing dairy. This trend is contributing to obesity as well as poor bone health seen among our youth. With obesity and osteoporosis on the rise, health messages should be promoting the consumption of dairy, not discouraging it.

We are fortunate in Maine that we have relatively easy access to fresh and healthy milk and milk products produced by Maine cows and Maine farmers.

Yes – to Maine milk!

Donald E. Hoenig, VMD, is state veterinarian for the Maine Department of Agriculture. Dora Anne Mills, MD, MPH, is the State Public Health Director of Maine CDC/DHHS.