Four Year Study Finds Higher Levels of Antioxidants and Vitamin E in Milk From Organic Herds Versus Conventional Herds

06/11/07 Naturally Iowa, Inc. announced that according to the Organic Trade Association, a four year Newcastle University study has announced preliminary findings that indicate that levels of antioxidants in milk from organic herds contain up to 60 to 80 percent more antioxidants than conventionally produced milk in the summer, and 50 to 60 percent higher levels in the winter. Additionally, the preliminary results indicate that milk produced from organic herds contain higher levels of Vitamin E.

According to William Horner, President and CEO of Naturally Iowa Inc., the new findings could potentially have a significant impact on the growing organic food and dairy industries. "As the scientific community continues to gather evidence and to conduct peer review, we believe that consumer interest in organic food and dairy will continue to grow. The study conducted by Professor Carlo Leifert of the Tesco Centre for Organic Agriculture based at Newcastle University in the United Kingdom is important, because the four year, $25 million study is one of the largest studies of the organic food industry to date. We believe that the preliminary results validate what organic producers and processors such as Naturally Iowa have believed about the benefits of organic food and dairy consumption."

According to the Organic Trade Association, "This study may be the breakthrough that helps prove what many in the organic sector believe to be true about food grown using organic practices," said Caren Wilcox, OTA's Executive Director, on learning of the findings. The QLIF Project, set up in March 2004, is funded with a grant of 18 million Euros ($25.8 million) from the EU. The research program involves 31 research centers, companies and universities in Europe and elsewhere.