Market Potential of Plant-Based Milk Analogs
摘要
Over recent years, there has been a significant increase in demand for plant-based milk analogs driven by the rise in veganism, lactose intolerance, dairy allergies, sustainability, and ethical food options, as well as different lifestyles. Countries with favorable economic conditions and a growing focus on plant-based diets are experiencing higher demand for plant-based milk analogs. They are not an entirely new product category, as they have been part of many historical food cultures, for example, soy milk in China and horchata (tigernut milk) in Spain. Presently, the Asia-Pacific region is the largest market for plant-based milk analogs. As more people seek to reduce or eliminate traditional milk products from their diets, the market for dairy alternatives has experienced exponential growth. Globally, a multitude of sources such as cereals, pseudocereals, legumes, nuts, and seeds are used for the development of plant-based milk analogs like vegetal milk, cheese, cream, yogurt, butter, different sweets, and ice cream, which have nearly similar nutritional profiles to those of animal-origin products. The market of plant-based milk analogs continues to evolve. Technological innovation, price competitiveness, increased availability, development of new products with improved physicochemical and sensory properties, nutritional profile, reduced antinutrients and allergens, and varying flavors will play key roles in their continued growth. Moreover, government policies and regulatory support also play a pivotal role in the growth of the plant-based milk analog market.