Got Milk? But What Kind?
What’s all the CoMOOtion About?
Between the many different types of cow milks like 2%, fat-free, skimmed and the several types of plant-based milks made of oat, soy, and almond; how does one know what type of milk to drink? Although the plant-based milk industry has grown exponentially into a $1.6 billion industry (Bowles, N. 2018), plant-based milk has been around for longer than most people think. The origins of almond and soy milk date back to the 14th and 17th centuries respectively (Powell, V. 2018). The American milk industry on the other hand, emerged more recently during the 19th century (Powell, V. 2018), and has maintained a supreme status, making it worth $35.5 billion (Irfan, U. 2018). Now that plant-based milk has made a resurgence there are more milk options than ever before. Despite being graced with such a large variety, many are clouded by confusion over what kind of milk to consume due to controversy over their nutritional values, and ethical and environmental effects.
Several factors discourage people from drinking cow milk and the cruel treatment that cows endure for human profit, is a major one. Additionally, bovine dairy production is very taxing on environmental resources such as water and fossil fuels (Guilbourg, C. 2019). Milk’s nutrients such as calcium, proteins, and fatty acids are either said to be found in other plant-products or said to be the causes of illnesses such as lactose intolerance. The “Big Shots” of both industries are also key influencers in this milk debate. Milk boosters are the corporations or lobbyists that promote the cow milk industry financially, legally, and through advertisements, and they have continued to champion cow milk as an essential beverage. However, companies that produce plant-based milk are giving cow milk boosters a run for their money by promoting that they are environmentally sustainable and cruelty-free. Nevertheless, they still leave potential customers wondering whether these substitutes are able to compete with the amount of nutrients in cow milk. In this essay we will examine the conflicting information between cow milk and plant-based milk.
Why are some people so UDDERLY against Cow Milk?
The ethical reasons against the consumption of cow milk involve the treatment of resources such as the cows themselves, and the environment. The largest animal rights group, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), is the chief critic of the consumption of cow milk, due to the suffering cattle face both before and after they are lactated. The suffering that the cows endure on dairy farms include calves being taken from their mothers at very young ages and being immediately fed with milk replacers (PETA. 2011). Then comes the issue of female cows being inseminated when they themselves are still young so that they begin lactating early. After their 5 years of being capable of lactating, they are then slaughtered (PETA. 2011). When it concerns the gas emissions, land and water use involved in the production of cow’s milk, these numbers are higher than that of all plan-based alternatives (Guilbourg, C. 2019). As the global climate change crisis worsens, the production of cow milk continues to be a contributing factor.
It is important to identify how milk became so demonized in the first place while recognizing that this dairy beverage still holds value. Dr.Adam Lock PhD, is an Animal Science Professor at Michigan State University, whose area of expertise is dairy cattle nutrition. It is not surprising to learn that he grew up on a dairy farm in Nottingham, United Kingdom (Michigan State University, 2020). He is now a father, and when he heard that his children’s school would be implementing a dietary “low-fat” program, he was dismayed by the mischaracterization of milk as being “fatty”. This led him to announce to the American Feed Industry Association that the American public has a phobia of fat, especially that which exists in cow milk (Day, C. 2013). Lock disagrees with the nation’s growing fear of milk and attributes the misconception of the risk of milk fat to scientist Ancel Keys. Keys is a physiologist from the state of Colorado who focused his studies on the effects that diet has on health, such as the effects of starvation on men (Brody, J.E, 2004). In 1953, he played a pivotal role in establishing the relationship between the consumption of saturated fats and the risk of cardiovascular disease and high cholesterol levels. His science was widely accepted, and since milk contains saturated fats as well as 400 different fatty acids, people began viewing cow milk as a health risk (Day, C. 2013). Flaws have recently been found in Ancel Keys’ science due to the complexity of the relationship between diet and cardiovascular disease. Despite the high amount of saturated fats in milk, it should be known that 60-70% of saturated fats come from vegetable sources. It is also important to note that milk contains 9 essential ingredients: calcium, potassium, phosphorus, protein, vitamin A, B12, D, riboflavin, and niacin. Thus it is beneficial to human health.
Why is everyone so Nuts about Milk AlterNUTatives?
Plant-based milk is an option opted for by those who do not drink cow milk. Plant-based milk is produced by extracting water from the raw material being used such as almonds or cashews. The liquid is separated, then homogenized until it resembles cow milk. The 5
categories of materials used as plant-based milk substitutes are cereals such as oats, legumes like soybeans, nuts, seeds such as sunflower, and lastly pseudocereals like quinoa (Silva, A. et al, 2020). Looking at the nutrient values in different types of plant-based milk, and comparing them to those in bovine milk will reveal that these two beverages are entirely different in composition. Soy milk has the nutrient list the most comparable to cow milk. This consists of carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and significant polyunsaturated fatty acids. Almond milk’s main components are mainly polyunsaturated fats, followed by proteins, sugars, and mineral fibers. Almonds are another nutrient-rich plant-based milk comparable to cow milk’s micronutrients since it contains vitamin E and other antioxidants. Lastly, oat milk which has been the most recent novelty in the cow milk substitute arena is a good source of dietary fibers. It contains antioxidants as well as vitamins and minerals (Silva, A. et al, 2020).
Why do some BOO the MOO?
From the nutritional components of both cow and plant-based milk, it is evident that both are adequate sources for daily required nutrients. But just as they can both be healthy options, an added complexity is the slight health risk that both can cause. Cow milk, for example, is notorious for contributing to lactose intolerance in adults and cow’s milk allergy in children. Lactose Intolerance affects 75% of the world, and is caused by lactose accumulating in the colon instead of digesting, which then leads to uncomfortable symptoms (Silva, A. et al, 2020). Bloating, flatulence, abdominal discomfort, nausea, constipation, and diarrhea are all disagreeable sensations that are the aftermath of drinking cow milk. Cow milk allergy affects between 5 and 20% of children bearing symptoms such as abdominal pain, coughing and wheezing (Kneepkens, F. et al, 2009). Cow milk is also suspected to lead to increased osteoporosis in women as it ironically robs the bones of calcium.
Is Plant-Based Milk really that NUTritious?
Plant-based milk has its shortcomings too, such as its low protein content. If one lacked other sources of protein, the amount of protein present in plant-based milk would not be enough to meet their needs and may cause illnesses related to protein deficiency (Silva, A. et al, 2020). Plant-based milk is more difficult to digest because it contains anti-nutrients such as phytic acid that disrupts the interference of some nutrients. Lastly, it is important to know that being allergic to certain plant-based milk is possible. After being presented with both the risks of both cow and plant-based milk it is up to individuals and their nutritionist or primary care providers to evaluate which type of milk will best suit their individual lifestyle and health needs.
How did Dairy get so LegenDAIRY?
The nutritional values are not the only factor involved in the controversy between plant-based and cow milk. Advertisements and the influence of the government and corporations on the public are other major contributors to the confusion over what type of milk to buy. Consumer activists, government nutritionists, and the American Dairy Council are all milk boosters that promote its drinking. The “Got Milk” campaign was the government using its power to advertise milk to help sustain the dairy industry (Scheltens, L.2016). This campaign is still present to this day with celebrities such as Chrissy Tiegen taking part. The US Department of Agriculture even suggests 3 daily servings of dairy despite three-fourths of Americans being lactose intolerant. Trade groups have given millions to Congress in exchange for influence concerning the nation’s nutrition policy. The world’s largest dairy producer, Nestle, also exhibits behavior that reveals their intentions to sell as much cow milk as possible (Dupuis, E. 2002). The brand was involved in flooding poor countries around the world with advertisements for powdered milk formula as a better alternative to breast milk. All these efforts are beginning to fall short as the American cow milk industry continues to decline.
How did Plant-Based Milk get so NUTworthy?
Although dairy production has more government support and influential boosters, the plant-based milk industry still puts in effort into advertisements to make their product more appealing. This strategy is working because plant-based milk is being purchased at an increasing pace. Milkadamia the macadamia nut milk company, celebrates World Plant Milk Day on August 22nd and has a campaign entitled “14 reasons why Moo is Moot” (Kateman, B. 2019). For plant-based milk companies, their advertisements consist of rhetoric that showcases their environmental sustainability and lack of animal cruelty. The popularity of plant-based products sometimes happens inadvertently such as in the case of Oatly, the Swedish oat milk company. They started out as only being available in coffee shops, and after they were sold black-market style from the coffee shop themselves, the company decided to make them available in stores such as Wholefoods and Target.
Why is the Dairy Industry having a COW?
The recent success of the plant-based milk industry has not gone without notice to the cow milk industry, leading to attempts to pass legislation to prevent the plan-based industry from using the word “milk” when describing their products. Dr. Scott Gottlieb, the commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration voiced his opinion that the use of the “word” milk when describing plant-based alternatives would confuse the consumers from knowing what they are buying (Irfan, U. 2018). To defend his argument Gottlieb stated that “an almond doesn’t lactate”. Support for this protectionism of the milk industry comes from Chris Galen, the Vice President of the National Milk Producers Federation. Galen and Wisconsin Senator Tammy Balswing, both want to pass the Dairy Pride Act, which stands for Defending Against Imitations and Replacements of Yogurt, Milk, and Cheese To Promote Regular Intake of Dairy Everyday Act (Bowles, N. 2018). This law is clearly biased towards the dairy industry and is designed to stifle the success of the plant-based milk industry.
How possible is COWmpromise?
The cow milk industry does not have to feel so threatened by the up-and-coming plant-based industry, after all, every type of milk deserves it’s time to shine. Greg Steltenpohl, the co-founder of the almond milk company Califia Farms restated the reporting by the Department of Agriculture, that last year 90% of households that bought alternative milk also purchased dairy milk (Bowles, N. 2018). This statistic is one solution to the cow milk vs plant-based controversy. If one is able to afford both types of milk and is unable to choose between both options, buying both is possible.
Regardless of what type of milk one chooses to drink, it is important to be aware of what is being consumed and the effects it has on the environment and other living things. When possible it is advisable to research into the corporations and lobbyists that support certain foods and beverages, because it is often more political than people think it is. During this current time of the COVID-19 pandemic so much cow milk is being wasted as the closure of businesses, schools, and restaurants has resulted in a lot of produce being wasted. The dairy farmers of America estimate that 3.7 million gallons of milk are being thrown out every day. Every industry has its time to sign and the already declining state of cow’s milk could be proof that the times “Got Milk?” movement is coming to an end.
References
- Cow’s Milk: A Cruel and Unhealthy Product. (2011, April 28).https://www.peta.org/issues/animals-used-for-food/animals-used-food-factsheets/cows-milk-cruel-unhealthy-product/
- Guibourg, C., & Briggs, H. (2019, February 22). Climate change: Which vegan milk is best? https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-46654042
- Day, C. (2013, September 30). Dairy fat: unhealthy or misjudged? Inaccurate historical research has led to mischaracterization of milk and dairy products as bad for human health. Feedstuffs, 85(40), 21. https://link-gale-com.ccny-proxy1.libr.ccny.cuny.edu/apps/doc/A348646971/AONE?=cuny_ccny&sid=AONE&xid=567d1a95
- Silva, A. R. A., Silva, M. M. N., & Ribeiro, B. D. (2020). Health issues and technological aspects of plant-based alternative milk. Food Research International, 131, N.PAG.
5.Frank Kneepkens, C. M., & Meijer, Y. (2009). Clinical practice. Diagnosis and treatment of cow’s milk allergy. European Journal of Pediatrics, 168(8), 891–896. https://doi-org.ccny-proxy1.libr.ccny.cuny.edu/10.1007/s00431-009-0955-7
6.Scheltens, L., & Barton, G. (2016, May 2). How Big Government helps Big Dairy sell milk. https://www.vox.com/2016/5/2/11565698/big-government-helps-big-dairy-sell-milk
7.Dupuis, E. (2002). Why Milk? In Nature’s Perfect Food: How Milk Became America’s Drink (pp. 3-16). New York; London: NYU Press. www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt9qfmj5.4
8.Kateman, B. (2019, August 19). Non-Dairy Milk Alternatives Are Experiencing A ‘Holy Cow!’ Moment. https://www.forbes.com/sites/briankateman/2019/08/19/non-dairy-milk-alternatives-are-experiencing-a-holy-cow-moment/#31d8d3fd4c44
9.Irfan, U. (2018, December 21). “Fake milk”: why the dairy industry is boiling over plant-based milks. https://www.vox.com/2018/8/31/17760738/almond-milk-dairy-soy-oat-labeling-fda
9.Bowles, N. (2018, August 31). Got Milk? Or Was That Really a Plant Beverage? https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/31/business/milk-nut-juice-plant-beverage-label.html?searchResultPosition=1
10. Powell, V. (2018, April 23). A brief history of plant milks. https://www.veganfoodandliving.com/features/a-brief-history-of-plant-milks/
Michigan State University, Adam Lock.
Brody, J. E. (2004, November 23). Dr. Ancel Keys, 100, Promoter of Mediterranean Diet, Dies. https://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/23/obituaries/dr-ancel-keys-100-promoter-of-mediterranean-diet-dies.html
