Pregnant? Steer Clear Of Organic Milk – It Could Pose A Risk To Your Unborn Baby

Pregnant women are being urged to avoid organic milk, after experts have discovered that it could be putting the brain development of their unborn babies at risk.   

Organic milk has a third less iodine in it than ‘normal’ milk, which is crucial to brain development.

Here in the UK, milk is the main source of iodine in our diets, so by drinking organic milk we’re effectively cutting our intake of this necessary chemical element dramatically – which could have a detrimental effect on unborn babies.  

If a baby doesn’t get enough iodine when developing, then they may be born with a brain that isn’t fully developed and a much lower IQ than normal.

Ultra high temperature (UHT) processed long-life milk also contains a limited amount of iodine and should be avoided when pregnant, say researchers from the University of Reading, who conducted the study.

“People are increasingly buying organic and UHT milk for perceived health benefits or convenience,” says professor Ian Givens from the University of Reading.

“But our research shows that this trend could have serious implications for public health. Iodine deficiency ought to be a health problem from the past. But unless this situation is carefully monitored, we risk sleepwalking into a new health crisis in the 21st century.

“Organic and UHT milk is not bad for you, and drinking all types of milk has numerous health benefits. But to get the same amount of iodine as in a pint of conventional pasteurised milk, you would need to drink around an extra half-pint of organic or UHT milk.”

It’s recommended that pregnant woman have about 220 micrograms (mcg) of iodine per day, to help boost their child’s brain development. One cup of milk only has approximately 56 mcg in it.

If you don't drink milk, you can get the recommended daily allowance of iodine from other foods including  most dairy products, eggs, vegetables and seafood.

Or you can take a supplement, which is recommended during pregnancy, to make sure you reach your daily quota.

While this new research shouldn’t be ignored, Dr Sarah Bath, Medical Research Council population health scientist fellow at the University of Surrey emphasises that the study doesn’t look at iodine in an individual’s diet.

“We cannot conclude that those who consume organic milk have a lower iodine status, as that depends on the quantity of organic milk consumed and intake of other iodine-rich foods [such as fish],” says Dr Bath.

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