Organic milk healthier for you, study suggests

• Drinking organic milk has more health benefits than drinking non-organic, a study has suggested.
• The research was presented to the Soil Association's annual conference in Newcastle.
• It showed organic milk has higher levels of vitamin E, omega 3 essential fatty acids and antioxidants, which help beat infections.
• But nutritionists said people who drank non-organic milk would be getting these nutrients from other sources.
• The research was carried out by a team from the Danish Institute of Agricultural Research, which is part of the University of Newcastle's Quality Low Input Food (QLIF) Congress.
• Milk was tested from cows who were farmed organically and conventionally.
• The study found cows farmed organically produced milk which was, on average, 50% higher in Vitamin E than conventionally produced milk.
• Higher levels of omega 3 essential fatty acids, which are believed to help provide protection from coronary heart disease, were also found in organic milk.
• The researchers suggest it also provides as much beta carotene as a portion of vegetables, such as brussel sprouts.
• Patrick Holden, director of the Soil Association, added: "This new research adds to a growing body of evidence proving the health benefits of organic food.
• Dr Anne Nugent, of the British Nutrition Foundation, said: "It is important to note that there were no differences highlighted between the two milks for some of the major nutrients that milk provides, such as calcium and vitamin B12.
• "It is important to encourage people to continue to consume milk and milk products - whether they choose organic or regular milk will be a matter of personal preference and choice."
• She added: "The main dietary sources of vitamin E are fat spreads; for beta carotene it is fruit and vegetables, and for omega 3 fats cereal and cereal products, meat and meat products and also fish.