PRESS RELEASE

CERTIFIED ORGANIC MILK HAS 50% MORE HEALTH BENEFITS

April, 2016:Remember when we used to get those little milk for one cartons at primary school every day? Turns out they were onto something! A glass of milk every day is just what most kids need to lead a healthy life as adults; but make sure it is certified organic and you have doubled those benefits.

In a recent study by the British Journal of Nutrition[1]it was discovered thatorganic milk contains{compared to non-organic classified dairy products} a massive 50% more beneficial omega-3 fatty acids which is widely recognised as essential fats for the human body.

The study is the largest systematic review of its kind and led by an international team of experts.

“These sort of studies are incredibly important to help prove the health benefits of choosing certified organic products,” comments Chief Certification Officer at Australian Certified Organic,Michael Baker, “It is great to see studies supporting the certified organic farming methods by showing results in nutritional differences between certified organic and non-certified organicdairy products.”

Australian Organic owns and supports Australia’s largest organic certifying group Australian Certified Organic.

The Australian Certified Organic ‘Bud’ logo appears on over 16,000 products across the nation.

Omega-3 fats are essential because they have been shown to help prevent and control common diseases of modern society. Omega-3 fatty acids help in the prevention of heart disease and stroke, lupus, eczema and rheumatoid arthritis, and help to normalize and regulate cholesterol. They also may play an important role in protecting from cancer and other conditions. The human body can’t produce omega-3 fats itself - we have to consume omega-3 fat rich foods, such as fish, nuts and leafy vegetables and dairy.

The Australian Certified Organic Standard 2013requires certified organic cows to have access to a healthy diet. According to the British study, natural pasture can contain high levels of clover which has been found to increase omega 3 fatty acid concentrations.

“This study doesn’t just apply to certified organic milk,” continues Mr Baker, “The nutritional differences found in the study also apply to othercertified organic dairy like butter, cream, cheese and yoghurt, which is great because these are products you can consume every day”.

“This research confirms everything Australian Certified Organic and our standard stand for,” comments Mr. Baker, “The way we grow our food, what we feed our animals and how we treat them has a massive impact on the quality of the produce we consume. We have always gone further than just saying that syntheticchemicals are bad for your health. In our opinion, it’s not just about the stuff you leave out, it’s about the stuff that you put in too.”

According to Australian Organic’s 2014 Market Report, the dairy product sector has grown dramatically since 2009.

The total farm-gate value of dairy products is approx. $114,000, up from the ABS 2011 figure of approx. $29,000.This is largely due to rising certified organic milk sales that have been driven by increased consumer demand for quality milk. Dairy is the fastest growing sector within the certified organic industry and there is little expectation the demand in this market sector is slowing down any time soon.

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[1]Published 16 February 2016, British Journal of Nutrition, by Newcastle University, England