What’s The Devil In The Milk? You Must Read This Important Interview!
So much for thinking organic milk was a safe alternative to conventional milk. Well, for many reasons it is a safer alternative (no hormones, antibiotics, etc.) but when it comes to A1 and A2 proteins, organic milk may have them both.
I was unaware of A1 and A2 proteins until recently when I was introduced to the amazingly informative book, “The Devil In the Milk” by Kieth Woodford. In his book Kieth gives his reasoning as to why A1 is “the devil” and how it has been linked to diabetes, heart disease, and even autism!
We are so pleased to publish our exclusive interview with author Kieth Woodford for you today. You will be shocked to learn about what is happening with milk in the world, and how our babies and children are being affected. This interview answers the question, “Does milk really do a body good?”
What’s the major difference between A1 and A2 milk?
The difference is just one amino acid that is different in the beta casein proteins. Although it is a tiny difference, it affects the way the milk is digested. It causes the release of a protein fragment called ‘beta casomorphin7’. ‘Casomorphin’ means a ‘morphine-like substance derived from casein’. I call this fragment ‘the milk devil’.
So called ‘ordinary milk’ bought in supermarkets and which is sometimes called ‘A1’ will actually be a mix of A1 and A2. In the United States, about half of the beta casein in milk will be of the A1 type and the other half will be A2.
All milk used to be pure A2 and it is only through a chance mutation affecting a proportion of cows of European origin that so called ‘ordinary milk’ contains the A1 beta casein. Human breast milk is all of the A2 type.
Why are we not converting to A2 milk in the US if A1 milk is related to so many illnesses?
The reason is that almost no consumers know about the issue. The information is all in the peer reviewed scientific and medical literature, and many industry leaders are aware of it. Most of those leaders have been hoping the issue would disappear, and there has been a concerted and sophisticated effort by some mainstream industry leaders to try and bury the issue. At times this has included using false information. However, the general public knows nothing about this. That is why I wrote the book.
Conventional cows of today are fed unnaturally (instead of grass they eat corn, grains, soy and sometimes animal protein) and given growth hormones, antibiotics and steroids – aren’t you more concerned about side effects and consumption of this unhealthy milk?
I certainly would be concerned if the milk I was drinking was produced in that way. In my country (New Zealand), the cows are grazed on pasture. We never give them hormones or steroids or animal protein. To do so would be illegal. The only time we give them antibiotics is if they have an infection and in that case the milk is thrown away until they are fully healthy.
All countries ban antibiotics in milk but some do allow their use within poultry feed. One reason that antibiotics are banned from milk is that the antibiotics kill the organisms used to convert the milk into cheese and yogurt. But it is true that in some countries, including the United States but not most European countries, it is legal to give hormones and steroids to cattle.
In my country we disagree strongly with this on the grounds of animal welfare. It is a major reason that many dairy cows in the United States have such short lives before they wear out. Giving hormones is in my opinion a revolting practice, but in terms of human health the scientists have never been able to prove convincingly that it causes health problems. In contrast, the evidence linking A1 beta casein to human health issues is extremely strong.
Are all sheep and goat milks A2 milk?
All goat milk is A2. There has been one scientific report of a protein equivalent to A1 being found in sheep, but it seems that this occurrence is extremely rare.
Can you buy labeled “A2″ milk in the US?
It is a huge source of frustration to me that labeled A2 milk is not currently available in the United States. In contrast, in Australia it is stocked by the two major supermarket chains in all of their mainland supermarkets, and hence is readily available in every city and town. Perhaps a short term alternative would be to ship long-life milk (which lasts more than 6 months) from Australia. The other alternative is to use goat milk.
Dairy Allergies and A1 Milk
What is the difference between milk allergy and milk intolerance? How can I tell my child has a milk allergy or is intolerant to milk?
An allergy is where the body is actively fighting a protein fragment such as ‘the milk devil.’ The allergy is likely to show up as eczema or asthma.
An intolerance is more likely to show up as a digestive problem. But in practice the two often run together. There are tests which measure sensitivity to various proteins. But the final test is usually an elimination diet.
In the United States one way of testing for sensitivity for A1 beta casein would be to remove cow milk from the diet for several weeks and instead use goat milk.
Is probiotic yogurt as bad as milk or is it easier to digest?
In some people probiotic yogurt is easier to digest than milk. The probiotics may reduce inflammation in the stomach and intestines. This is a good thing that may reduce the ability of beta casomorphin ( ‘the milk devil’) to sneak through into the blood system. But there are no guarantees. There needs to be more research on yogurt, but at this stage it seems that the only real solution is to make the yogurt with A2 milk.
Are most people allergic to lactose or milk protein? Does all milk, yogurt, cheese, ice cream and butter contain both?
The answers to this are not always 100% clear. My experience and that of some specialist doctors whom I talk to is that the majority of people who assume they are intolerant to lactose (because milk gives them wind or diarrhea, or makes them feel sick) are actually intolerant to A1 beta casein. They find they can drink the A2 milk without problems. But there is a small proportion of people who are genuinely intolerant to lactose and hence cannot drink either A1 or A2 milk.
Unfortunately all milk products contain some lactose. Similarly, all milk products made from A1 milk have potential to release the ‘milk devil’ on digestion. Some people who cannot digest ordinary milk can tolerate small amounts of cheese and butter. Ice cream has high potential to release the milk devil.
Autism and A1 Milk
Could children become autistic because of high intake of A1 milk or how is Autism related to milk/dairy consumption?
There is no evidence that the fundamental cause of autism is A1 milk. But there is very strong evidence that the autistic and behavioral symptoms of many children who are autistic are much worse when they are on milk.
Actually, it is not only autistic children who can have behavioral problems caused by A1 beta casein. It is anyone who, for whatever reason, has what we call a ‘leaky gut’ which allows the protein fragment to sneak through into the bloodstream. It is just that in autistic children the incidence of leaky gut seems to be much higher than other children.
As well as affecting their immediate behavior, the long term presence of an opioid getting through onto the brain has potential to cause profound and irreversible neurological damage. There is also evidence, particularly in some autistic children, that they become addicted to the ‘milk devil’ and suffer very difficult withdrawal symptoms when A1 milk is first withdrawn from the diet.
Breastfed is Best
What are symptoms triggered by milk consumption especially with children and what are the long term health effects?
Many children can drink milk without any problem. Milk can be an important source of protein and other nutrients. So shifting children off milk products should not be done lightly. Indeed getting children completely off milk products is rather challenging because milk is in so many manufactured food products.
Common symptoms of milk intolerance or allergy can include stomach problems, eczema, glue ear, and asthma. An elimination diet for four weeks that excludes all major sources of milk products is the most reliable test. This should not be done without discussion with a medical practitioner or qualified nutritionist, because of the need to make sure that the diet remains balanced. Using goat milk during this period is an option.
Medical studies show that Type 1 diabetes (often called juvenile diabetes) is much more common where the intake of A1 milk is high. The same situation exists for heart disease. Animal trials show that rabbits fed A1 beta casein have much higher levels of arterial plaque than those fed A2 milk. Similarly, diabetes susceptible rats and mice fed A1 beta casein have been shown to have much higher incidence of diabetes than their fellow rodents fed A2.
In humans we know that babies fed formula have a higher incidence of oxidised LDL than breast fed babies, and we also know that odixised LDL is very closely linked to heart disease. We also know that these formula fed babies have high antibodies to casomorphins, which means the body is trying to attack the casomorphins as a foreign invader which it does not like.
The one thing we do not have is clinical long term trials where some babies are fed milk that is A1 and others are fed milk that is A2. These trials would be very difficult to conduct for ethical reasons and we would have to wait many years to see the outcome. So those who wish to argue against A2 keep saying that there is no ‘proof’. People also say to me that we must not do anything that would damage the dairy industry, which in my country is the most important industry on which our economy depends. My response is that there are an awful lot of smoking guns around, and the time has come to do something about it. In my country we are quietly breeding our national herd towards A2 but we could be doing it a lot faster. Outside New Zealand and Australia, almost nothing is happening.
One practical problem for mothers is that no-one knows in advance which children will develop diabetes or heart disease or anything else.
A1 Milk and SIDS
Is there scientific evidence that SIDS is related to consumption of A1 milk?
There are several risk factors for SIDS. They include having a mother that smokes, and lying babies on their tummies rather than their back. There is also evidence that babies sleeping in the same bed as the parents have increased risk. Babies who sleep on old, rather than new mattresses, may also be at greater risk, presumably because of a bacterial buildup.
Breast fed babies have a lower risk than formula fed babies. It has been hypothesized that the issue with formula is linked to casomorphins. Also, there is evidence from University of Florida that injecting the ‘milk devil’ into the blood of animals can cause the equivalent of SIDS. In my country the incidence of SIDS has been greatly reduced by not lying babies on their tummies. But there are still far too many babies that die of SIDS.
I have a friend who for more than 20 years worked as a priest in Northern Brazil. In this region the people are too poor to buy formula, and any milk is almost pure A2 because of the particular breed of cows. (All tropical breeds of cows are A2.) My friend tells me that no child could die in that region without him being called to conduct the funeral, and in 20 years he never came across a case of SIDS. Of course this is not proof. But it does all ‘add up’.
Babies are most likely to die of SIDS when several risk factors come together. Each factor that is removed reduces the risk.
The Dangers Of Infant Formula and A1 Milk
Are all infant formulas in the US made with A1 milk?
Unfortunately the answer is ‘yes’. One major international manufacturer has said to me that they would like to use A2 but cannot do so until they are sure there is a world wide supply. However, some formula manufacturers are increasingly using whey proteins rather than casein proteins. This makes sense because the proteins in human milk are predominantly whey rather than casein. But part of the reason is also that whey is cheaper than casein. Unfortunately, not all babies like the taste of whey-based formulas. It is also possible to buy specialist formulas in which the proteins have been broken down to individual amino acids. If correctly formulated, then they should be totally safe. However, they are very expensive.
We are full of appreciation for Kieth Woodford’s expertise and time in sharing his knowledge with our readers. Please forward this post to all those you love.
Keith Woodford, Author of Devil In The Milk
Keith Woodford is Professor of Farm Management and Agribusiness at Lincoln University. New Zealand. He holds a master of Agricultural Science degree from Lincoln University. His PhD is from University of Queensland (Australia), specializing in rural industry development.
Brought up in New Zealand, he lived in Australia for nearly 20 years before returning to New Zealand in 2000. He has also worked in many Asian and Pacific countries on rural development and agribusiness programs.
Keith’s interest in the issue of A2 milk arose when he realised that some industry people were withholding and misrepresenting key evidence. Keith lives with his family in the Christchurch, New Zealand, and partakes in a wide range of outdoor sports including skiing, mountaineering and cycling. In his youth he climbed mountains in the Himalayas, Andes and Antarctica.
The Devil In The Milk
In Devil in the Milk, Keith Woodford brings together the evidence published in more than 100 scientific papers. The Devil In the Milk can be purchased on Amazon for $16.47 here.
Category: 0-1 yr, 1-3 yrs, 3-5 yrs, 5+ yrs, Allergies, Autism, Breastfeeding, Drinking, Feeding
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What about soy milk and rice milk? Do you need to worry about A1 and/or A2 with either of them?
Please read our article carefully. As stated in the interview, this A1 protein comes from the milk of a cow.
Love your blog and have been a follower for quite some time. What a great article! This is one of the reasons why I switched to soy products.