Does dairy contain natural oestrogen, especially brie and blue cheese?

Last updated 31/01/2025

All types of milk (irrespective of whether it comes from a cow, goat, sheep or human) contains natural hormones including oestrogen and progesterone. These are found in low concentrations in dairy foods including milk, cheese and yoghurt.

Some sources show that hormones become more concentrated as milk is processed into cheese, and other higher fat dairy products. However, these hormones in dairy foods are broken down in the gut by digestive enzymes and are not absorbed in their active form and are safe for consumption.¹

When it comes to added hormones, the Australian dairy industry banned the use of oestrogen drugs in milking cows in 2008. You can find out more about this at Does cow's milk contain estrogen or other hormones? | You Ask, We Answer - Dairy Australia. This often means that international studies that analyse hormone content of dairy products cannot be applied to Australian dairy products.²

To understand more about what's in the dairy products you buy, you can contact the food manufacturer directly on their customer care line.