
I have done some research to find the cleanest brands of foods that I do and would use in my household. Find my cheat sheets below!
Dairy

NOTES
–Homogenization (aka cream top)- The homogenization process involves reducing the size of the fat globules (the cream that rises to the top of the glass or bottle) into minuscule portions that are dispersed evenly throughout the milk. Homogenization usually is achieved by pumping milk through small openings under very high pressure. As a result, milk looks and tastes creamier (Undeniably Dairy).
–Pasteurization– Heats milk to kill bacteria. The downside is that it kills the good probiotic bacteria and beneficial enzymes, diminishing the nutritional profile and making it less digestible.
*Vat Pasteurization: The original method of pasteurization, which heats milk or other liquid ingredients in a large tank for at least 30 minutes (IDFA).
*High Temperature Short Time (HTST): The most common method of pasteurization in the United States today, which uses metal plates and hot water to raise milk temperatures to at least 161° F for not less than 15 seconds, followed by rapid cooling (IDFA).
*Ultra Pasteurized (UP): Must be heated to not less than 280° for two seconds, resulting in a product with longer shelf life but still requiring refrigeration (IDFA).
–A-2 Protein– A2 is a type of protein that exists in cow’s milk that is sourced from specific cow breeds. Jersey cows are known to be high in A2 protein. Human breast, goat, sheep, and water buffalo milks all contain only A2-like proteins, and thousands of years ago, cow’s milk also had only A2 proteins. Historians believe that the A1 mutation originated in Europe somewhere around 8,000 years ago, but why it occurred is open to speculation. Some cows produce only A1, some only A2 and some both proteins. In regular milk production, all the cow’s milks are typically blended together so you get a mix of proteins in the carton. To get only A2 protein milk, a complete genetic testing is done to determine which cows make only the A2 protein variation (Zeal).
– See Food Certification Labels post for more information and terms.


See my Kids Yogurt Hacks post for instructions.
Fruit & Vegetables
For the most part, I follow the EWG Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen chart when it comes to buying organic fruits and vegetables, when they are available.

– Dirty Dozen: The most contaminated with pesticides. More than 90% tested positive for residue of pesticides. A total of 210 pesticides were found on the items.
EWG’s 2023 Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce
– Clean Fifteen: Lowest amounts of pesticide residues. Almost 65% had no detectable pesticide residues.
Meats
We order our meat from Butcher Box and love it! Their meat is also certified by third party organizations including “Certified Humane”.
See my post about Food Certification Labels in regards to what certifications to look for when purchasing meat.
