Dairy products strengthen health, while plant-based given edge in sustainability. Dairy products contain high-quality proteins — whey and casein — and the biological value of them is very high. Yet, consumer research shows that there is a difference in how consumers perceive sustainability between products.
In 2021, 61% of consumers turned to fresh milk at least weekly. Importantly, the number of consumers turning to these products has remained fixed over the last few years, which indicates that while people have been working on improving their health through their diet, they are not necessarily cutting down on their intake of fresh milk, stated FMCG Gurus.
My husband and I recently went grocery shopping together — a rare event — to purchase food and ingredients we needed for hosting a small cocktail party. We were in the cookie and cracker aisle when my husband spotted it: a brand of crackers touting “Plant Based” on the front panel of its packaging.
While traditional animal-derived dairy remains a popular consumer choice, producers are now faced with an exciting opportunity to capitalize on the growing popularity of vegan, vegetarian and flexitarian diets that are driving demand for plant-based dairy alternatives.
The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California is allowing a plant-based dairy alternatives manufacturer to continue to engage in deceptive labeling.
Back in February 2020, Petaluma, Calif.-based Miyoko’s Creamery (Miyoko’s), a manufacturer of dairy alternatives, sued the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA).
A quick glance around any major retailer would reveal plant-based brands positioned as alternatives across all major dairy categories. What used to be seen by many as a fad has clearly gained some legs.