The booming market for full-fat and plant milks

by **Jenise** » Tue Oct 16, 2018 12:46 pm

Some stats from a recent TIME magazine article:

* Skim milk sales have plummeted, while whole fat now accounts for 38% of the market compared with 29% five years ago.
* Whole fat yoghurt sles increased 25% in 2017 over 2016.
* Almond, soy and coconut milk are among the fastest growing beverage classes as more Americans switch to a plant-based diet, and sales are up 61% since 2012.

I visited a local dairy a few months ago and lower overall milk sales have made a real dent in the local dairy market. This particular dairy, however, has one product line in particular, however, that's keeping them afloat: Indian yoghurt and cheese. It's growing at about the same rate that milk is losing market share, and they ship scads of it up and down the west coast.

by **Robin Garr** » Tue Oct 16, 2018 1:34 pm

Interesting. I love full-fat Brown Cow organic yogurt, one of the few yogurts I've met that actually tastes as good on its own as it does mixed in with other things. I decided a long time ago that I'd rather enjoy the quality of full-fat dairy in moderation than eat a lot of the skimmed-down alternatives, and it seems to work for me, health-wise.

As for plant milks, I quit drinking milk as a beverage, dairy or otherwise, sometime back when I was a baby. :mrgreen:

by **Jenise** » Tue Oct 16, 2018 2:42 pm

Robin Garr wrote:As for plant milks, I quit drinking milk as a beverage, dairy or otherwise, sometime back when I was a baby.

Ditto. I was four.

Not a fan of yoghurt, but your POV is what the article states. Also that there's been some recognition that full-fat dairy includes a lot more nutrients than non-fat. More Vit K, calcium, magnesium and protein, and some research suggests these products may help regulate blood sugar and insulin.

by **Rahsaan** » Mon Oct 22, 2018 10:43 am

Good. Maybe things are moving in the right direction. It always makes me cringe when I go to the yogurt section of a supermarket and see endless low-fat/skim options and sometimes no actual full fat yogurt. Also ridiculous when all the yogurt options are flavored with sugary crap and there is no actual full-fat plain yogurt (i.e. real yogurt) in the yogurt section!

by **Jo Ann Henderson** » Wed Oct 24, 2018 7:08 pm

I never understood the trend toward reduced fat milk and milk products. I am accustomed to eating low-fat yogurt (almost daily breakfast), but I only cook with full fat yogurt and now and again treat myself to Ellenos Real Greek yogurt on occasion (made here in Seattle), which is like eating old fashioned hand-cranked ice cream.