Which type of plant-based milk is best?(economist.com)
economist.com
Which type of plant-based milk is best?
https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2021/11/05/which-type-of-plant-based-milk-is-best
70 comments
Spraying roundup on food is environmentally unfriendly … make sure the oats in your milk are glyphosate free unless you don’t mind your family consuming weed killer.
https://www.organicconsumers.org/news/100-percent-oat-produc...
https://gundrymd.com/oat-products-glyphosate/
https://www.organicconsumers.org/news/100-percent-oat-produc...
https://gundrymd.com/oat-products-glyphosate/
Ugh, one more thing to worry about!
I quickly checked the brand we use (Oatly) and it’s certified by this organization which also lists other products, a lot of major brands are there:
https://detoxproject.org/certification/glyphosate-residue-fr...
Their process seems pretty thorough, the companies have to go through periodic random testing.
https://detoxproject.org/certification/glyphosate-residue-fr...
Their process seems pretty thorough, the companies have to go through periodic random testing.
> Really great in coffee and warm drinks in general.
That’s not my experience. It curdles with strong espresso and the barista versions are fatty and/or mixed with soya milk.
That’s not my experience. It curdles with strong espresso and the barista versions are fatty and/or mixed with soya milk.
Interesting. I haven’t noticed a problem with curdling myself. Admittedly I’m buying my coffee from a coffee shop so I’m not sure if I’m getting 100% oat milk. But soy messes with my throat so I think I’d have noticed that.
There's a barista version for some brands and it comes with a small amount of rapeseed oil added in which helps with the blending process.
Normal oat milk curdles otherwise.
Normal oat milk curdles otherwise.
I am 100% sure coffee shops use barista version which are fatty and mixed with soya milk.
I'm literally looking at an Oatly Barista Edition pack right now and it clearly says it's free from milk or soya. The ingredients don't contain any soya reference as well, it's likely the rapeseed oil that makes it fatty.
What makes you so sure??
What makes you so sure??
Ok I made a mistake not all brands mix it with soya milk. Some generic supermarket brands do it in Germany
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As an avid cow milk drinker (consume it daily with oats/muesli) switching to plant milk was easy. Cow milk tastes richer and more flavourful though.
But I enjoy the wheat(?) and spelt(?) based milk also rice,coconut and soy.
For some reason the almond and cashew ones taste a bit weird to me.
It's been great to learn that cow milk can be substituted so easily, still get it sometimes for the taste though.
It's been great to learn that cow milk can be substituted so easily, still get it sometimes for the taste though.
Have you tried oat milk? The Oatly full fat version is very rich, almost too rich for my taste, but it works well as a creamer substitute.
Have you substituted butter out too?
For cooking in most things the taste is generally better (unless you're trying to make a buttery croissant) and there's no impact on quality.
I do find it hard to substitute out eggs though.
For cooking in most things the taste is generally better (unless you're trying to make a buttery croissant) and there's no impact on quality.
I do find it hard to substitute out eggs though.
I think aquafaba can be used in baking (I don't cook but that sounds right) and JUST Egg, if you want to eat eggs. I have pet chickens, they scatter eggs about. Sometimes we eat them and sometimes we feed them to them (they lose a lot of nutrients making eggs and we don't want chicks). It's a pretty harmless way to get eggs and they get to live a full life (we don't eat them).
Ordinary milk isn't very healthy. On the one side lactose, for few of us a problem, but there's help with enzyme supplements.
The problem with mammals milk is that extra portion of hormones you get.
Ever drink raw milk? It taste like the cow smells and looks.
The milk we drink out of the Box is processed. So, basically they take the strange taste out of the milk by homogenizing and pasteurization, but leave the hormones in it, which are needed by newborn offspring in reality.
Like some medicine can also be transmitted by milk to the newborn, so does the hormones and medications.
On the other side, plant based milk has also quite few problems. One is pesticide, and fertilizer that are used for growing the plants. The other thing is what they need to add to keep the "milk" smooth without demixing to water-oil-phases. I like oat milk. I love lactofree cow milk. I like horse, goat and soy milk - but try to consume not to much of any type.
On the other side, plant based milk has also quite few problems. One is pesticide, and fertilizer that are used for growing the plants. The other thing is what they need to add to keep the "milk" smooth without demixing to water-oil-phases. I like oat milk. I love lactofree cow milk. I like horse, goat and soy milk - but try to consume not to much of any type.
Please provide evidence for that statement.
To face the possibility of not answering your question, I think I answer on the not so obviously one.
https://www.verywellfamily.com/hormones-in-breast-milk-p2-39...
Here's an explanation of hormone/active content in our human mammals milk. I assume (others say "We know") with other mammals it is the same.
There is also evidence that milk of cows given to human babies let them develop eczema of skin. That's why they get mom's milk or processed artificial powder milk with supplements a human newborn needs.
Also, young mothers should avoid alcohol while still breastfeeding. Medicine taken also must not be passed to baby with milk. Quite a lot of medicine have a warning.
Also a lot of food ingredients can be passed with milk to newborns, like salt, pepper & spices, garlic, onions, cardamom, etc - which induce flatulence and pain or having even bigger effects, like lavender scent does by being oestrogenious and letting boys grow boobies or the girls developing "elephantiasis of their secondary sexual character parts" (= I can't write that three descriptive words in here) and later as a result a high risk of breast cancer (to much of oestrogen hormone as main cause).
So, we eat parts of dead bodys and drink the milk which is not intended for our branch of evolution :)
https://www.verywellfamily.com/hormones-in-breast-milk-p2-39...
Here's an explanation of hormone/active content in our human mammals milk. I assume (others say "We know") with other mammals it is the same.
There is also evidence that milk of cows given to human babies let them develop eczema of skin. That's why they get mom's milk or processed artificial powder milk with supplements a human newborn needs.
Also, young mothers should avoid alcohol while still breastfeeding. Medicine taken also must not be passed to baby with milk. Quite a lot of medicine have a warning.
Also a lot of food ingredients can be passed with milk to newborns, like salt, pepper & spices, garlic, onions, cardamom, etc - which induce flatulence and pain or having even bigger effects, like lavender scent does by being oestrogenious and letting boys grow boobies or the girls developing "elephantiasis of their secondary sexual character parts" (= I can't write that three descriptive words in here) and later as a result a high risk of breast cancer (to much of oestrogen hormone as main cause).
So, we eat parts of dead bodys and drink the milk which is not intended for our branch of evolution :)
A store bought one could be convenient and great for taste, but those are usually and primarily sunflower oil blended with some other plant products (like oats or almonds) and emulsifiers.
The best one is what you can make at home. If you skip the vegetable oil and emulsifiers, you can make these quite quickly. You either blend it (the nut or seed) with water or soak and then blend with water (or additionally cook after blending). You could get more wholesome nutrition too.
Look up the recipes to make these at home. They’re quite simple (or at least not as complex as cooking some other foods). Try making with cashews or coconut or almonds or flax seeds or soybeans or peanuts or rice or hemp or sesame or a blend of these.
The best one is what you can make at home. If you skip the vegetable oil and emulsifiers, you can make these quite quickly. You either blend it (the nut or seed) with water or soak and then blend with water (or additionally cook after blending). You could get more wholesome nutrition too.
Look up the recipes to make these at home. They’re quite simple (or at least not as complex as cooking some other foods). Try making with cashews or coconut or almonds or flax seeds or soybeans or peanuts or rice or hemp or sesame or a blend of these.
I thought we weren't allowed to call plant based "milk", milk anymore? Its a soy beverage.
I think it's fair to call it milk. It's definitely not a beverage as a soda or beer would be.
It used to be "secretion from the mammary glands of certain farm animals" but you can rephrase it to "liquid that is taken from a particular protein source — a coconut, a soy[bean], a cow, a goat..."
It used to be "secretion from the mammary glands of certain farm animals" but you can rephrase it to "liquid that is taken from a particular protein source — a coconut, a soy[bean], a cow, a goat..."
Well coconut milk has been coconut milk forever basically, I don’t see why it shouldn’t be allowed to call the liquid produces of plants milk anymore only because the threatened dairy industry suddenly decides. And I think some countries agree here.
Allowed?
Ya in Europe it’s not “allowed” commercially to call anything which is not an animal milk a milk.
https://www.foodingredientsfirst.com/news/european-court-rul...
https://www.foodingredientsfirst.com/news/european-court-rul...
Sure it is.
Here's in EU coconut milk: https://hjem.foetex.dk/produkt/kokosmaelk-max-18-fedt-oeko/6...
And another EU retailer selling goat milk: https://naturkost-odense.dk/product_info.php?products_id=202
Here's in EU coconut milk: https://hjem.foetex.dk/produkt/kokosmaelk-max-18-fedt-oeko/6...
And another EU retailer selling goat milk: https://naturkost-odense.dk/product_info.php?products_id=202
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Animal milk is ok but coconut milk is an exception I guess. I don’t really know why.
Because with its long history as a food, coconut milk is widely know to be called "milk" for its colour. It was not traditionally used as a replacement for milk, it stood on its own as a food source.
These new products are designed to replace actual milk for use in consumption. So there does entail danger of confusion, hence, the restriction on calling them milk.
These new products are designed to replace actual milk for use in consumption. So there does entail danger of confusion, hence, the restriction on calling them milk.
It's not limited to cows, but it needs to come from an animal.
Only in Europe
I hadn't even noticed so I walked to the fridge and indeed: here in The Netherlands, it's called "Alpro Soya naturel" or "Alpro Soya Barista" or something. My grocery app calls it a "soy drink". Cans of coconut milk are still called coconut milk, but the 1-liter-sizes are called "coconut drink".
This sorta reminds me of the note they add to some compostable products which says the item is compostable, but not in California. I actually appreciate CA’s tighter regulatory standards but the note itself feels absurd.
This is milk, but not in Europe
This is milk, but not in Europe
> This is milk, but not in Europe
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Yeah NIVEA body milk is in trouble.
once I switched there’s no way I’m ever going back to cow’s milk.
Why?
Health, much greater taste variety, no cruelty involved to make it, environmental benefits.
There are some horrendous practices prevalent in the dairy industry for sure, but it’s naive to think there is no cruelty or environmental detriment involved in plant based milk.
The natural ecosystem of the land that is now crop was obliterated before the first seed was sewn, and most likely the soil’s nutrients are depleted more and more each year, due to pesticides and crude plowing techniques.
If a moral high ground is what you’re looking for, drink water.
The natural ecosystem of the land that is now crop was obliterated before the first seed was sewn, and most likely the soil’s nutrients are depleted more and more each year, due to pesticides and crude plowing techniques.
If a moral high ground is what you’re looking for, drink water.
You’re being negative and pedantic.
There is no perfect way to produce consumable resources because it takes other resources to make them, whether it’s animals, land, water, fuel or whatnot.
Someone will always find something to be unhappy or offended with even if we grow oat milk in space in a vacuum and teleport it back to earth.
Reducing horrendous practices of abusing animals to have a milky cup of coffee is great step forward and people have the right to feel they’re making a positive impact without judgements that’s it not good enough or that poor soil’s nutrients are taken away instead now.
You can’t change the world being binary about these things, it’s a step forward in the right direction.
We’ll change world being agile and iterative, not by turning it into a waterfall project of “everything now is magically 100% environmentally friendly and everyone’s happy”.
There is no perfect way to produce consumable resources because it takes other resources to make them, whether it’s animals, land, water, fuel or whatnot.
Someone will always find something to be unhappy or offended with even if we grow oat milk in space in a vacuum and teleport it back to earth.
Reducing horrendous practices of abusing animals to have a milky cup of coffee is great step forward and people have the right to feel they’re making a positive impact without judgements that’s it not good enough or that poor soil’s nutrients are taken away instead now.
You can’t change the world being binary about these things, it’s a step forward in the right direction.
We’ll change world being agile and iterative, not by turning it into a waterfall project of “everything now is magically 100% environmentally friendly and everyone’s happy”.
No, I'm not. I get annoyed when people pretend plant based alternatives are a strict win with absolutely zero downside.
If you think about it, there actually is a perfect way to produce consumable resources, and it existed long before humans came along. Ruminant animals graze, migrate and their dropping rejuvenate soil in perfect balance with nature.
I'm not making the case that it's practical or even possible to feed 8 billion people in this way, but the way that we're depleting the Earth's nutrients with industrial farming is not practical in the long term either.
If you think about it, there actually is a perfect way to produce consumable resources, and it existed long before humans came along. Ruminant animals graze, migrate and their dropping rejuvenate soil in perfect balance with nature.
I'm not making the case that it's practical or even possible to feed 8 billion people in this way, but the way that we're depleting the Earth's nutrients with industrial farming is not practical in the long term either.
Most farming is done for live stock feed, so your argument makes little sense. Also if there's the choice to be made between soil and live animals I'm choosing the animals.
Not true, live stock feed is mostly the husks and stalks of the plants that are inedible to humans, which if it weren't for livestock, would be discarded as waste. See this video for some more common misconceptions, if you're interested: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGG-A80Tl5g
Every plot of land used to grow crop represents countless animals that used to live there, and were wiped out by the farmer. Farmers constantly battle against pests, which too are animals, just trying to live. Vultures are often seen following combine harvesters, to prey on the corpses of field mice and other small mammals that get caught in the blades. Zero harm is a myth.
Every plot of land used to grow crop represents countless animals that used to live there, and were wiped out by the farmer. Farmers constantly battle against pests, which too are animals, just trying to live. Vultures are often seen following combine harvesters, to prey on the corpses of field mice and other small mammals that get caught in the blades. Zero harm is a myth.
Zero harm is a myth for most things. But harm involved in producing cow’s milk (to animals, to environment) and plant based milk is HUGELY different.
It sounds to me you want to make everything relative so that the conclusion is “everything involves some harm, so I might just eat me some steaks and drink some cow milk, it won’t matter”. But it matters greatly. So let’s not do that.
It sounds to me you want to make everything relative so that the conclusion is “everything involves some harm, so I might just eat me some steaks and drink some cow milk, it won’t matter”. But it matters greatly. So let’s not do that.
That's exactly my point - your original comment said there is "no cruelty involved to make it", which is plainly incorrect.
You're mistaken about my motivations - I believe that eating ethically sourced, grass fed, grass finished, certified organic meat is better for the environment than a plant based diet. Watch the video I linked if you'd like to understand how someone could possibly make that argument.
You're mistaken about my motivations - I believe that eating ethically sourced, grass fed, grass finished, certified organic meat is better for the environment than a plant based diet. Watch the video I linked if you'd like to understand how someone could possibly make that argument.
I’m not looking for any high ground, I’m looking for decent ground. There’s no way you can compare the cruelty involved in producing cow milk to that of producing oat milk for example. It’s not in the same universe.
I didn't say the cruelty was equivalent, I'm pointing out that you don't escape the cruelty entirely by switching to a plant based milk - many thousands of small animals died for it.
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I enjoy oat milk but wonder about the production process and how healthy it is long-term. For example the one I drink contains canola oil.
Where are you based? You should be able to find some oil free alternatives
True. I'm in Switzerland. I did find one with sunflower oil but haven't looked into it further.
The best tasting plant based milk I've had and consume regularly is Plenish Oat Milk (UK).
It's particularly creamy without having any oil additives, not great for frothing in coffee though.
It's particularly creamy without having any oil additives, not great for frothing in coffee though.
Oatly Barista for me.
One should check their local regulations too: here in Australia, Soy milk is fortified with B12 which is nice. I prefer soy milk to everything else personally.
Doesn't soy milk affect hormone levels?
I did some research into this recently and it seems there is no definite link in humans. Also, a lot of common foods have phytoestrogen (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phytoestrogen#Food_sources).
From what I've understood, soy actually doesn't affect hormone levels as much as it itself performs the function of some hormones - estrogen I think. So people who promote soy will (rightfully) claims that it doesn't affect hormone levels but they'll leave out that the effect on human development is very similar to the effect of raised estrogen levels.
I'm not a medical professional though the opinion that I share is the opinion of a medical professional that I trust. There's a lot of money to be made in soy products, though, so like fossil fuels be prepared to find zealots on both sides of the argument who have no problem lying or even just being "useful idiots". I certainly hope that I'm not being one.
I'm not a medical professional though the opinion that I share is the opinion of a medical professional that I trust. There's a lot of money to be made in soy products, though, so like fossil fuels be prepared to find zealots on both sides of the argument who have no problem lying or even just being "useful idiots". I certainly hope that I'm not being one.
OK, it seems that "pseudo estrogen" is the term to google for.
You can see the effects of the food industry on the debate, as almost all medical journals that mention "pseudo estrogen" mention it in the context of soy, but the Wikipedia page "Xenoestrogen" (which apparently is a scientific-sounding stand-in for the medical term "pseudo estrogen") doesn't even contain the word soy.
You can see the effects of the food industry on the debate, as almost all medical journals that mention "pseudo estrogen" mention it in the context of soy, but the Wikipedia page "Xenoestrogen" (which apparently is a scientific-sounding stand-in for the medical term "pseudo estrogen") doesn't even contain the word soy.
I believe it's dose dependent. I've substituted soy milk fortified with calcium for full cream milk in cereal and protein shakes and I love it. My only remaining milk consumption is a small milky coffee most days. Anecdotally I did ask the doctor to include testosterone on my last general blood test and it came back healthy. My belief is that plastics are a bigger disruptor of hormones.
The science in support of the hypothesis that soy affects hormone levels is thin to say the least
yeah that's been debunked AFAIK. The "soy boy" meme is still funny to me though.
The problem is where I live soy is not grown and it’s imported has a huge carbon footprint and it’s usually grown in monoculture which is bad for the environment
While that’s a shame, and means other alternatives are a better choice in that instance, both those apply to dairy production with even worse impacts
I do alternate between oat milk and pea-based milk (the latter might be my favorite, taste-wise).
Maybe figure out how to curb the use of jets, the use of fossil fuels in industry, and China's conversion of coal into cheap products????
No... let's talk about which veggie milk is the best / worst for the environment.
Don't these writers maybe consider that what they are doing is creating NOISE??
No... let's talk about which veggie milk is the best / worst for the environment.
Don't these writers maybe consider that what they are doing is creating NOISE??
The argument that because we can't fix everything, or the bigger things, we shouldn't fix anything has never been a good one. Making positive choices, however individually small, does wonders at collective scale. These types of things can change markets and lead to much larger changes.
Maybe think about your work moments a little more before writing them. Don't you consider that what you're doing is creating NOISE?
Maybe think about your work moments a little more before writing them. Don't you consider that what you're doing is creating NOISE?
These are things which we as consumers can control why not? Why can’t we talk about plant based milk and do all those you mention?
> China's conversion of coal into cheap products????
Who buys them?
Who buys them?
Overall the taste and creaminess feel very authentically milky, would recommend.
I understand it’s also one of the most environmentally friendly alternatives across all categories, so that’s a big bonus too. And I bet it’s pretty easy to make yourself if you’re keen.