Milk consumption patterns are changing worldwide, with plant-based milks derived from cereals, legumes, nuts and seeds increasingly gaining popularity. This shift can be attributed to several factors such as the high prevalence of lactose intolerance which affects half the global population and milk allergies. Furthermore, rising awareness in consumers regarding animal welfare, also the proliferation of veganism and concerns related to environment sustainability are fuelling this revolution. Studies have shown that plant-based milk such as oat milk, soy milk and almond milk requires less water and produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions compared to cow’s milk. However, these alternatives lack adequate protein content, bioactive peptides making fortification and processing technologies essentially for improving their nutritional values. In India, coconut milk and almond milk have deep roots in ancient culture. But the high market price of plant-based milk is another challenge for low-income consumers. Therefore, the future of plant-based milk will depend on addressing the nutritional gaps and also making them affordable for all consumers.
Kaith, S., Gautam, A., Chauhan, D., 2026. From Oats to Almonds: The New Face of Plant-based Milk in India and Beyond: Uprise, Significance, Challenges and Opportunities. Biotica Research Today 8(2), 25-27. DOI: 10.54083/BRT/08.02.26/25-27.
Dairy milk, Lactose intolerance, Milk allergy, Veganism
Maras, R.T., 2023. Comparison of the nutritional value of cow’s milk and plant-based milks. Black Sea Journal of Agriculture 6(6), 734-741. DOI: https://doi.org/10.47115/bsagriculture.1331725.
Ramsing, R., Santo, R., Kim, B.F., Altema-Johnson, D., Wooden, A., Chang, K.B., Love, D.C., 2023. Dairy and plant-based milks: Implications for nutrition and planetary health. Current Environmental Health Reports 10(3), 291-302. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40572-023-00400-z.
Riofrio, A., Baykara, H., 2022. Techno-environmental and life cycle assessment of oat-milk production in Ecuador: A cradle-to-retail life cycle assessment. International Journal of Food Science and Technology 57(8), 4879-4886. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/ijfs.15828.
Sethi, S., Tyagi, S.K., Anurag, R.K., 2016. Plant-based milk alternatives an emerging segment of functional beverages: A review. Journal of Food Science and Technology 53(9), 3408-3423. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13197-016-2328-3.
Walther, B., Guggisberg, D., Badertscher, R., Egger, L., Portmann, R., Dubois, S., Rezzi, S., 2022. Comparison of nutritional composition between plant-based drinks and cow’s milk. Frontiers in Nutrition 9, 988707. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2022.988707.
