The Truth About Milk Subsidy: A Comparison of Nutritional Value with Plant-Based Beverages

Milk subsidy, comparison of nutritional value

[농축유통신문 이동원 기자]

The Milk Subsidy Management Committee is drawing attention by disclosing a case study comparing the nutritional value of milk and plant-based beverages listed by the American Society for Nutrition. While milk has superior nutritional value, plant-based beverages have some limitations.

Milk is naturally rich in important nutrients such as calcium, vitamin D, protein, vitamin B12, vitamin B2 and phosphorus. In fact, milk is a food that provides a number of health benefits, including supporting bone health, contributing to muscle health and repair, and supporting the functioning of the nervous system.

Plant-based beverage is a term that encompasses a variety of products, including soy milk made from soybeans and beverages made from almonds and oats. There is a big difference in nutritional content between milk and plant-based drinks because plant-based drinks don’t contain a single drop of raw milk.

To evaluate the nutritional profile of plant-based beverages compared to that of milk, researchers examined more than 200 plant-based beverages sold in the United States in 2023. As a result, compared to milk, only 12 percent contained similar amounts of three nutrients: calcium, vitamin D and proteins.

Furthermore, it has been confirmed that the amino acid composition of proteins in plant-based drinks is different compared to milk proteins. In other words, milk proteins are complete proteins that contain a sufficient amount of essential amino acids needed by the human body, but proteins contained in plant-based drinks have a low content of essential amino acids, which makes it difficult to consume sufficient quantities on their own.

Additionally, the sugar, preservatives and flavors added to some plant-based drinks are also problematic. These additives can have adverse health effects, so check product labels carefully when purchasing.

Meanwhile, at the end of November last year, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety prepared “Substitute Food Labeling Guidelines” for “substitute foods” made similar to animal-based foods using plant-based ingredients . The labeling elements recommended by the Ministry for Food Safety and Pharmaceuticals include △the term “substitute food” which clearly indicates that it is an “alternative food” △the name of the product to avoid confusing it with an animal food, etc. △whether or not it contains animal raw materials. Furthermore, the fact that it does not contain ingredients of animal origin must be indicated with a character equal to or greater than 12pt.

Additionally, even if the word “vegetable” is listed in foods that do not contain milk, the product name cannot be labeled as “milk” or “milk.” Even if the names of substitute raw materials, such as oats and almonds, are included in the product name, foods that do not contain milk cannot be labeled as “oat milk” or “almond milk”.

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