Chemicals in Milk

A new study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry confirms what many already know: a glass of milk contains much more than a dose of calcium. The Spanish-Moroccan team of researchers analyzed 20 samples of cow, goat, and human breast milk from Spain and Morocco, and found growth hormones, painkillers, and antibiotics in each. The cows’ milk, in particular, contained the most, including a form of the sex hormone estrogen and chemicals used in painkillers. While the doses found were too small to cause any affect on drinkers, researchers say tests such as these are important for food safety.