It’s natural to assume that you have all the information you need about the foods you eat and the products available for purchase in your stores. Why would well-known stores like Shop Rite, Trader Joe’s, Target, Walmart, etc. be openly selling products that could negatively impact public health? Well, as our omission propaganda blog explained a few weeks ago, the public often isn’t given the information they need to make truly educated choices. Sure, everyone knows loading up on sugar-filled cookies and potato chips packed with MSG isn’t the best health choice. But what about the products in our stores, marketed to be health-food? A tremendous amount of work has been done within the past four decades to convince the American people that dairy products, specifically milk, are crucial to our overall health.
Actors that we will call “big dairy” for the purpose of this point, have been pushing milk products on American families heavily in the mainstream since the early 1980’s. Advertisements like “Got Milk?” featuring A-list celebrities sporting a milk moustache and “Drink milk for strong bones” campaigns flood our screens and encourage us to give glasses of milk to our children by the gallon. After all, how could a responsible parent deny their child dairy when it is so important to their long-term health? The proposition stands, that milk and dairy are essential to our diet, providing nutrients and vitamins we need while no other source can substitute; this so you’re led to believe the only healthy thing to do is eat greek yogurt, drink 2%, and even indulge in sweet treats of ice cream. Yet, not all dairy products are created equal and while they do provide benefits including essential macronutrients/ micronutrients like calcium, vitamin B12, and vitamin A, the effects of the underlying proteins in commonly-sold U.S dairy products have potential deleterious effects. Moreover, there is an easy fix that would keep the diary benefits while eliminating what could be serious risks.
In an article titled, “What is A1 Milk and A2 Milk and Does It Matter?” published by Healthline in 2025, Atli Arnarson BSc, PhD and Deborah L. Nurmi, MS explore the differences in a protein called beta-casein, found in bovine milk. This article is one of many that illuminates how A1 and A2 dairy products differ in their protein content and the health effects that A1 can specifically have on the human body. The article states:
“There are two main types of beta-casein in milk, A1 β-casein and A2 β-casein. Different breeds of cows produce milk with A1 or A2 beta-casein…Research suggests that A2 milk may be easier for people with milk intolerance to digest, and some people think A1 milk may contribute to some chronic health conditions and disorders…Growing evidence suggests that A1 beta‑casein triggers adverse digestive symptoms in some people.”
Casein, the main protein in milk, includes a subtype called β-casein, which exists in two genetic variants: A1 and A2. These variants differ by a single amino acid at position 67—histidine in A1 and proline in A2—which leads to the production of different peptides during digestion, notably β-casomorphin-7 (BCM-7) from A1 and BCM-9 from A2. Emerging research has linked BCM-7 to potential adverse health effects due to its opioid-like characteristics and potential to bind with opioid receptors in the central nervous system. Moreover, much research also suggests BCM-7 is associated with inflammatory gut reactions pointing to its negative role in the functioning of the immune system. This role in both the CNS and immune system has led to a great deal of research associating the peptide with a range of clinically observed diseases. By contrast there is BCM-9 is both an anti-hypertensive as well as an anti-oxidant, illustrating the various A2 milk benefits.
In the summary of an article published earlier this year: “The Impact of A1-and A2 β-Casein on Health Outcomes: A Comprehensive Review of Evidence from Human Studies” Gonzalez-Rodriguez and five other researchers from the University of Santiago summarized their findings by noting:
“The evidence collected in this review of human studies with different populations (i.e., children, middle-aged adults, athletes) suggests that the consumption of milk containing A1 β-casein may negatively influence gut health…The release of βCM-7 upon digestion can also compromise intestinal-barrier integrity, which may exacerbate symptoms of lactose intolerance, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), or other allergy-related sensitivities. Its ability to cross the blood–brain barrier raises concerns about potential neurological effects. In contrast, milk containing exclusively A2 β-casein is associated with improved gastrointestinal outcomes, including the enhanced abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Bifidobacterium spp. and reduced inflammatory markers.”
BCM-7, or β-casomorphin-7, a bioactive peptide (short chain of amino acids) is released during the digestion of A1 beta-casein. While still in preliminary stages, and difficult to completely correlate, there has even been research suggesting that BCM‑7 from A1 β‑casein —via inflammatory, oxidative, or microbiome-mediated pathways— affect mental health in already-susceptible individuals. These effects are thought to occur through mechanisms such as binding to opioid receptors in the brain, affecting neurotransmitter systems, increasing inflammation or oxidative stress, and altering the gut–brain axis. What all of this works to illustrate is the potential health risks of A1 milk.
BCM-7, Mental Health, and the Hidden Neurological Risks of A1 Dairy
In fact, according to a 2014 paper written by Sokolov O. et al titled, “Autistic children display elevated urine levels of opioid peptides derived from food proteins”, elevated BCM-7 levels have been reported in individuals with schizophrenia, autism, and postpartum psychosis. What this suggests is that the BCM-7 levels found in their urine indicate a potential disruption in the metabolism of dietary proteins, possibly contributing to or reflecting underlying neurochemical imbalances associated with these conditions.
A2 proteins on the other hand are very positive when ingested, as they serve as antihypertensives and antioxidants. Worldwide there have been dozens of studies with strong evidence that A2 is a much better choice than A1. The odds of all these studies being wrong is slim to none. If we could find just one study with evidence that A1 is the better choice, our tone would be far less shrill.
One may think the easy solution to fix this problem is to replace A1 dairy products with A2. Simply selling dairy products from any cow that produces A2 would not be difficult as Guernsey, Jersey, Brown Swiss, Normande, Gir, Sahiwal, and Zebu are cow breeds known to produce A2 beta-casein rather than A1. Why that hasn’t been done in our country when research supports that it will make people feel better and improve health outcomes is anyone’s guess. Our guess is that it has something to do with the fact that the most common dairy cow in America, the Holstein, is also the most productive milk producer.
Unfortunately, this appears to be just another example of materiality and profit trumping concern about our nation’s wellbeing. Information about these proteins and their potential effects are not even generally shared with consumers. It would seem the least “big dairy” could do is to keep people informed about what they’re putting into their bodies. For those lucky enough to stumble upon the A1/A2 issue they will find it nearly impossible to find A2 options in mainstream stores. Substituting A2 for A1 is possible but in most cases very costly as A2 dairy is only produced by specialty farms. Sad but true, the last thing most Americans need is higher costs for essential items.
Until our society puts the wellbeing of its populace above the profits of our corporations America will continue to devolve into a swamp. Major steps in the right direction would be to end senseless and expensive wars, and cooperate with the rest of the world with the goal of bringing a better life for all of humanity.
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