With 75% of the global population being lactose intolerant and concerns for the environment on the rise, plant-based milks have emerged as a viable alternative to dairy products in recent years. It's a global US$20 billion industry, with sales expected to more than double in the next decade. Dairy-free alternatives make up the largest plant-based market segment in the US, with $2.
9 billion (€2.6 billion) in sales last year. The plant-based drinks made up close to 15% of the total milk dollar sales.
Nearly half of all US households bought plant-based milks in 2023. Yet in a recent study of 219 plant-based milk alternatives, scientists at the University of Minnesota's Nutrition Coordinating Center found they offered fewer nutritional benefits than cow's milk, including less calcium or vitamin D . Very different carbon footprints of plant-based milks and dairy As cattle-rearing is linked to deforestation and methane emissions, there are also environmental and climate implications to consuming dairy products.
The median per liter greenhouse gas emissions associated with soy, oat, almond, spelt, pea and coconut milks are 62-78% lower than those connected to cow's milk, the authors of a study titled Dairy and Plant-Based Milks: Implications for Nutrition and Planetary Health found. (Also Read | Can your kid's vitamin D deficiency make it harder to heal broken bones and fractures? Study gives answers ) But what type of milk is best for the planet and our bodies? "It's a little dif.