Milk: The Real Deal

The dairy aisle is literally exploding with new options – everything from new flavors of milk to new beverages disguising themselves as “milk.” When it comes to nutrition, not all milks are created equal. It’s important for consumers to know what they’re actually getting in that carton.

These alternative beverages are often plant-based drinks or solutions made from rice, soy, nut, and hemp products. Though they share shelf space with milk, plant-based beverages do not share the same nutrient package. Some key differences:

• Milk contains naturally occurring calcium, which is easily absorbed by our bodies.
• Most imitation dairy beverages are fortified to match milk’s calcium content.
• Milk provides high-quality protein, with an average of 8 grams per cup.
• Many imitation dairy beverages have 1 gram of protein or less per cup.
• Simple and natural, milk is void of added sugars, flavorings, or stabilizers, which are often found in the ingredient list of many imitation dairy beverages.
• Most imitation dairy beverages are twice the cost of milk.

It’s important for consumers to know that, when it comes to nutrition, not all dairy aisle drinks are created equal. There is no substitute for the high nutrition and economic value that milk offers. It’s the real deal!

Milk: The Real Deal