Ellie Chivers Predicts The Collapse Of The Dairy Industry.
Photo by Pricilla Du Preeze
Giving up dairy – something that sounds like an impossible challenge for a lot of people, myself included. How could we go without the frothy cow’s milk in our morning coffees, or the stringy cheese in our lunchtime toasties? But, as I sit here with my soya milk tea, it hits me how accessible the dairy-free way of life has come. And so many others have welcomed it with open arms too – which has knocked the dairy industry for six.
Experts are now suggesting the dairy industry could completely die out, fating its disappearance in 10 years’ time. We have already seen the milk industry take a dramatic nosedive, with sales declining by 22% in the US between 2000 and 2016. Meanwhile, the popularity of dairy-free milk alternatives is on the incline, with a 9% increase in sales in 2018.
But why is this happening? No doubt part of it is down to the major veganism movement – according to The Vegan Society, the search for ‘vegan’ quadrupled over 2012 and 2017, proving more popular than ‘vegetarian’ or ‘gluten-free’.
The feeling towards dairy products has become increasingly more hostile, and this has had a huge impact on the industry.
But it’s not just the vegans. Dairy is a health risk for lots of people. According to a 2016 report titled, “Global Lactose-Free Market 2016-2020’, “the sales of lactose-free products have doubled due to the increase in self-diagnosed lactose intolerance in 2014.” Not only that, but Live Kindly has reported that 75% of African-Americans are lactose intolerant. The health risks in dairy products is more evident than ever, with research suggesting its dangers dating back to the 1970s. This is not something which can be ignored for a vast portion of the population – which accounts for the 2016 report proposing that the sales of lactose-free products will: “double during the 2016-2020 period and reach revenues over USD 700 million.”
If this article has been of interest to you, you may enjoy reading The Move Away From Meat.
Brands are reacting to the trend, with Magnum and Ben & Jerry’s introducing dairy-free ice creams, and Hotel Chocolat releasing ‘free from’ chocolates. With all the wonderful alternatives out there – from the most basic daily essentials, like milk, to little chocolatey treats – it’s no wonder people are straying from the dairy, whether it poses a health risk to them or not. So, start saying your goodbyes to the dairy industry now – it seems as though it won’t be sticking around much longer. | Tru. 🌱
We are a conscious publication and platform providing social-ethical insight and knowledge about topics that matter | Ethical insight, one place. www.tru.org.uk
We are funded by readers like you. To support our work and journalism, donate here
Sources
Comments