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Market is abuzz with vegan milk and other substitutes
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Thursday, 16 August, 2018, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Sonal Shekhar
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Despite the longstanding hype about health benefits of milk, the dairy industry is marred by rapidly changing scenario regarding milk consumption patterns since the past few years. Lactose intolerance has emerged as the prime reason, influencing the consumer behaviour towards milk intake.
Allergies, cramps, and bloating - all symptoms of lactose intolerance are related to dairy products, along with some growing evidence that it may not be as healthy and ‘ethically produced’ as we thought it would be. The good news is that there is a growing dietary shift as a result of changing public attitude about health.
People across various cultures have consumed plant-based milk for centuries. However, more fancily called vegan milk nowadays, its popularity has skyrocketed over the past decade. Whether for nutritional value, animal welfare, to avoid dairy-related allergies, or simply out of preference, more and more milk consumers are choosing dairy-free plant-based vegan milk over cow’s milk. More recently, plant-based vegan milk production has been capturing the limelight, resulting in a huge, multibillion dollar market globally, which is expected to grow rather significantly owing to growing inclusion of vegan milk in routine life by consumers.
Dairy-Free Alternatives
There is a famous saying by Dr Mark Hyman that really places a lot of questions on the consumption of milk, like we do. To quote, “Dairy is nature’s perfect food — but only if you’re a calf.” Consumers are challenging the ‘healthy’ status that cow milk enjoys and the impact it has on our health and environment. This was a moment of opportunity which is now reflected in the increasing demand for non-dairy vegan milk. Whether sugar-laden or unsweetened, or for drinking and cooking - the market is abuzz with vegan milk and other substitutes of dairy-free milk. However, not all plant-based milk have the same nutritional value or can be used to get the same benefits.
Nutritional Properties
For those who are completely vegan, or at least planning to turn into one, soy milk be an ideal choice, owing to similar nutritional properties as cow’s milk. Giving a great boost of much-needed protein, soy is one of the richest sources of plant-based protein. Low in calories, fat, and high in potassium, soy milk makes for an excellent alternative for health-conscious people and can have a protective effect against cancer, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis.
Soy milk can also potentially lower cholesterol owing to the presence of compounds such as isoflavones and phytosterols. Available in various flavours like vanilla, chocolate, or banana, soy milk can be used for cooking and baking too. Although with very little evidence, if not heavily processed, soy milk can be harmful.
Otherwise, different from soy milk, almond milk makes for a healthy alternative as it has fewer calories and is relatively high in calcium and, tastes great! Less suitable for making coffee and more apt to be had with cereals, almond milk has been one of the most popular plant-based vegan milk in recent times. However, the only downside is that the milk is stripped off its fibrous properties which is peculiar to almonds when processed.
With a slightly nutty taste, cashew milk has heart-healthy fats and can be a great choice for diabetic people who need to track their carbohydrate intake. Food enthusiasts bet on cashew milk to treat depression, control blood pressure, and for healthy bones and skin. Having antioxidants like selenium and vitamin E, cashew milk boosts immunity and prevents cancer.
Health Beverages
Among these, the soy milk segment - experiencing steady demand, is estimated to account for the largest share in the market for plant-based dairy-free alternatives, in the coming years. Additionally, on the basis of applications, soy milk is likely to be used mostly in health beverages among other applications including desserts, non-dairy cheese, and snacks.
Additionally, other vegan milk derived from coconut, macadamia, and hemp seeds are also gaining prominence in the dairy-free milk alternatives market. Such a vast variety of milk alternatives is making it easier for people to switch to plant-based milk. And, with the advent of innovative bases such as pea, quinoa, flax, and oats, high protein vegan milk is becoming the norm in supermarkets and households further driving the vegan milk market.
Vegan Milk for Babies
With so many alternatives on the dairy and ‘free-from’ aisles in the supermarkets, parents across the globe are concerned about the right kind of milk for their toddlers. However, paediatrics and nutritionists are studying the effectiveness of plant-based and cow’s milk and how different milks stack up against each other. However, experts believe that no matter how good, vegan milk could just be a bane of growth in toddlers.
Recently, dietitians of Canada and the Canadian Paediatric Society, in an official statement, urged parents to exercise caution when choosing beverages. Owing to recent cases of malnourishment among infants and young children, paediatricians noticed that toddlers were being fed plant-based vegan milk - as their primary milk needs.
Although vegan milk is significantly protein-rich, its low fat content translates into a low calorie diet, which tends to offer inadequate nutrition to babies and toddlers.
Misleading Vegan Labels
A bill passed by a US senator has urged the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to prohibit the use of ‘diary terms’ like ‘milk’ and should only be using names conventionally with direct implications with animal products, such as milk, cheese, butter, and yogurt. The FDA is also investigating whether consumers are being misled into consuming vegan milk by using the terms such as ‘milk’ for plant-based products - considering that the bi-product is less of milk and more of water - which can be further termed as beverage.
Furthermore, the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) has also urged the FDA to tighten up the definition of dairy-based food products. Dairy products producers have also argued that that it is not ‘ok and legal’ to combine plant-based nuts and beans powder with water, sugar, and chemicals like emulsifiers and stabilisers, and call it 'milk.' The FDA is currently collecting information and data before making any decision regarding the issue as it could change the way people consume products - as milk or beverages. Since, the stakes in this fight are much higher, this silence could prove to be a serious threat - at least to the sales of vegan milk.
Plant-Based Formulations Launch
Food industry has taken care of issues like lactose intolerance and milk allergy by introducing plant-based alternative milks around the world. Apart from quinoa, flax and oats, protein-rich vegan milk from chickpeas is likely to dominate the plant-based market, along with peanut milk. This innovation will push more dairy companies to invest in vegan brands. However, the ongoing debate over conventions for plant-based 'milk', 'yogurt' and 'cheese' - will define the course of plants-based products market.
(The author is food and beverages consultant at Future Market Insights. She can be contacted at sonal.s@futuremarketinsights.com)
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