Page 34 - FoodFocusThailand No.240 April 2026

SPECIAL FOCUS FOCUS
SPECIAL

PLANT-BASED MILK VS. COW’S MILK:

COMPETITION FOR THE FUTURE CHAMPION

OF PROTEIN DRINKS

Amid growing health awareness and concern for environmental sustainability, plant-based milk has become
an increasingly popular alternative to cow’s milk. It is especially suitable for consumers who are health-
conscious, allergic to bovine milk, averse to animal-derived products, follow vegetarian diets, or are lactose
intolerant – groups that together account for more than 60 percent of the total population.

Meanwhile, advances in food innovation and technology Bovine Milk vs. Plant-based Milk: Differences in
play an important role in aligning the flavour, texture, and Protein Content and Nutritional Value
nutritional value of plant-based milk with those of cow’s Although more consumers have switched to plant-based
milk. Consequently, plant-based milk is no longer merely an milk due to environmental concerns, a significant nutritional
alternative for dairy-averse consumers, but has become a gap between dairy and plant-based milk remains, particularly
product capable of meeting the needs of modern consumers regarding protein quality and overall nutritional composition.
who prioritise both health and environmental sustainability. Cow’s milk is considered a source of high-quality protein
because it contains all essential amino acids in proportions
Bovine Milk Industry and Sustainable Management suitable for human requirements. The predominant proteins
in the Food System are casein, which accounts for about 80 percent, and whey
According to the Climate Finance Network Thailand (2025) and protein, which accounts for about 20 percent. Casein is
other recent research, the bovine milk industry, compared with digested more slowly, allowing the body to absorb amino
plant-based milk alternatives, has caused greater environmental acids steadily and gradually, while whey protein is digested
impacts, including higher greenhouse gas emissions, greater and absorbed more rapidly and serves as a source of
use of natural resources, and pollution from manufacturing branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), which play a major
processes. However, to address these issues, the modern role in muscle building and recovery.
bovine milk industry has increasingly adopted regenerative Protein quality can be evaluated using nutritional indices
agriculture and sustainable dairy farming practices and such as the Protein Digestibility-Corrected Amino Acid Score
technologies to improve manufacturing efficiency and the quality (PDCAAS) and the Digestible Indispensable Amino Acid
and safety of raw milk. The industry also prioritises animal Score (DIAAS). Bovine milk is considered a high-quality
welfare in accordance with international standards, implements protein source, with a PDCAAS value close to 1.0, while many
measures to manage methane emissions from livestock plant-based alternatives score lower due to limited amounts
farming, and applies systematic animal waste management of certain essential amino acids. However, combining raw
to mitigate environmental impacts and enhance the long-term materials from various plant sources can address this
sustainability of food production. limitation and generally improve overall protein quality.

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