Soy, almond, rice, hemp, pistachio, macadamia nut, sunflower. What do all those have in common? They are all “milk.” Or at least the makers of said “milk” would like you to believe that! But those products don’t fit the actual definition of dairy milk, although they are labeled “milk” and placed in the dairy aisle at the supermarket. Those milk-like drinks contain very little protein or calcium, and a large group of Congress wants you to know that!
Those 32 members of Congress, many of them from big milk-producing states, wrote a letter to the Food and Drug Administration, calling on the FDA to order manufacturers of plant-based drinks to find some other name. Democratic Vermont Rep. Peter Welch, a co-author of the letter, points out that the FDA already has a legal definition of milk, and “the FDA regulation defines milk as something that comes from a mammary gland. So we’re asking the FDA basically to enforce its own regulation.”
No response yet from the FDA, but it’s not the first time a similar request has been made with no changes enforced.
So now I’m curious. What type of “milk” do you drink? I’ve actually never tried anything other than regular milk, and we normally just drink regular 2%, but I know so many people who drink all different types. What do you prefer? Is it because of dietary restrictions or do you prefer the taste?
Milk, it does a body good!
Moo,
~Mavis
This post may contain affiliate links. These affiliate links help support this site. For more information, please see my disclosure policy. Thank you for supporting One Hundred Dollars a Month.
Rosaleen says
I drink cow’s milk most of the time. When my hot flashes were at their worst, I did find that soy milk helped, so drank some of that as well. For some of my backpacking foods, I use powdered “Better Than Milk” soy milk for two reasons: It tastes good; and it seems to stand up to longer storage than regular dry milk.
Coconut milk used in cooking is another category, completely, and is used mostly for the taste, in my case. As far as the “milks” you list, I see them only of value to those who can’t have dairy for some reason, but with the caveat that the nutritional value is not at all the same.
Cheri says
I don’t believe milk is necessary or good health and is actually harmful to many people. It is meant to nourish a baby cow, not human beings. However, it does have nutrients humans can use, but all cow’s milks are not equal. The regular kind you buy in an ordinary grocery store is not as nutritious as raw, grass-fed, organic milk. It’s not the same food. Johnny Bowden, author of the book The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth advocates for raw milk straight from the farmer, saying it is an excellent food. It’s also worth noting that unless it’s from certain farms, milk is produced from cows who are subject to inhumane conditions. Even cows who have it pretty good often have terrible ends to their lives, once they no longer produce. The reading I have done on the subject is really sad. No, the cows aren’t butchered for their milk, but they still suffer.
If it were up to me and not my family, too, I would not buy milk but use almond milk for baked goods, unless cow’s milk was necessary. I do buy some, though, so I buy local in glass bottles. If I could afford it, I’d buy the 100% grass-fed kinds, but i can’t. I am stuck on ice cream and cheese. I buy Ben and Jerry’s when I can, because it seems to be produced decently, and I buy high-quality cheese that is more likely to be from well-treated, grass-fed cows (Trader Joe’s is a great source, and Rumiano’s at WF is good, too, from what I’ve heard). For butter I buy Kerrygold or another brand that is grass-fed and seems to treat cows decently. Or I buy Earth Balance. Yes, it’s all more expensive this way, but it’s a better use of my money.
Laura T. says
I had to comment after this one because she’s right about the poor treatment of animals. I am a vegan & I drink almond milk & sometimes coconut milk in smoothies. I get why they call it “milk” because it serves the same purpose to those of us who drink almond “milk”, like with cereal. I also eat vegan “cheese” & vegan “butter”.
Cheri says
I have tried soy milk but don’t like the taste, but I’ve found that almond milk in cereal and baked goods isn’t bad at all. I just can’t get my family to use it. I can’t wrap my mind around vegan cheese, but I do think Earth Balance is a really good substitute for butter–good taste and not terrible ingredients.
Annabel says
What about the bees? I watched a documentary called “more than honey” where they showed the appalling treatment of bees on a Californian almond farm.
Cheri says
Yes, I should look more into them. All I know is that they’re endangered.
JC says
Well you took the post right out of my key board here.
My husband still prefers cows milk most of the time, but we are lucky enough to have a farm right down the road that provides grass fed, organic, raw milk. I prefer almond milk on the rare occasion I have milk (usually just for making hot cocoa). I’m picky with where my other dairy products come from as well, eventually I want to make all my own butter using the local milk, but it’s baby steps around here. Cheese tends to be the tricky one for me, I love it, but the good stuff can get pricey, I’m working on sourcing more local stuff.
Stacie says
I drink & use regular whole milk on my cereal and in baking. Now in my fruit smoothies I use coconut milk and in my spinach smoothies I use almond milk. I don’t use the whole milk in the smoothies so I can cut calories and regular milk and blended spinach aren’t the best flavor combo HA! I probably only drink at the most 2 glasses of regular whole milk each week. There’s no way I could substitute a plant based milk for regular milk and cookies.
Heather Paullus says
I’ve always used dairy (cow) milk. That is until my 3rd child had constant ear infections and eczema. Then I took out all dairy products from his (& my, since I was breastfeeding him) diet. We strictly use almond or coconut milk, goat cheese, and an alternative (soy free) butter. He’s had no issues since, unless he accidentally gets some dairy and then his symptoms (& an ear infection) quickly return. SO I do think there are alternatives that are just as healthy as traditional dairy products.
Pam says
Using dairy regularly makes me feel ill, so years ago I switched to almond milk whenever I felt like eating cereal (which isn’t often). I know it’s technically not milk, but the flavor is very mild and you need to have SOMETHING on cereal! Eating it dry is horrible! 😀
I tried soy and found the taste to be awful. Almond is the nicest tasting I’ve found yet.
Linda says
We buy both dairy milk and non dairy milk. I rarely drink dairy milk but the non dairy stuff is shelf stable and useful if I need some in a recipe.
Tracy T says
I use powdered milk for any recipe that calls for regular milk. To drink and to add in smoothies, oatmeal, etc., I make my own almond milk. I usually make a liter every 3 days or so and it is SOOOOOO much better than store bought almond milk.
I use the recipe from Blendtec to make the almond milk.
Tristen says
I agree! Homemade almond milk is sooo much tastier and is super easy to make!
Becky says
I am allergic to dairy so I drink almond milk and coconut milk (mostly in baking). I still buy dairy for my family and I only buy whole milk dairy products for them.
mdoe37 says
I never buy milk at all unless I have a specific recipe. I do keep a good brand of powdered milk on the shelf for cooking. Chilled its actually decent to drink. I also keep a couple of quarts of shelf stable milk on hand.
The substitutes? I’ve tried, and tried and tried. Haven’t found any worth buying for what little milk I use.
KAYTHEGARDENER says
I second this — have only used non-fat dried milk for everything for decades. But I don’t drink coffee or have smoothies either…
bobbi dougherty says
Raw, baby Raw!!!
🙂
Rose says
I have been lactose intolerant since my early 20s. I use coconut milk for hot chocolate and cereal etc. mine says it has 45% calcium per 1 cup. It only has one gram of protein tho it doesn’t matter because my cereal is high protein. My hubby and kids drink organic dairy milk due to allergies.
I think Congress needs to worry about other things… LOL
Suzetta says
We drink non-fat. Tried almond milk….yuck.
Marie says
Due to lactose intolerance, we switched to nut milks over 30 years ago. No additional additives, inexpensive & healthy. We avoid soy in our diets & highly recommend when you switch from processed dairy to nut milks, try almond, cashew, coconut or hazelnut before soy. Prepackaged “nut milks” are very high in water content so make sure u read labels. Refrigerating the milk is a must. U can make ur own ice cream, spreads & creamers too once u determine ur family’s desired consistencies. Try them!! (All u have to do is roll down ur car windows 1mile before approaching the aroma of a dairy farm and u will be converted when u see what cows now eat, poop, ingest for hormones, supplements, hoof diseases & are subjected to milking machines twice a day.) All for organic dairy farms; but u have to pay for the privilege to support small farms. Cow’s milk is for their babies!
Teresa says
I drink cow’s milk and no other. I have tree nut allergies and almond or coconut or cashew etc.. would put me in the hospital with severe reactions. I have to be careful and read all labels. I’ve tried flax milk and hemp milk. Both of those were nasty in my opinion. I do keep dry milk on hand for bread baking.
Diana says
We do not buy cow’s milk because of the impact the industry has on our climate and the treatment of the animals. No other animal drinks milk from another species. Milk is not a necessary part of a healthy diet. We make our own nut milk if we need it for a recipe. There are so many other things to drink besides milk!
Sharon says
I completely agree with you Diana. Sorry Mavis, but (cow) milk does not do a body good. The same folks that convinced Mrs. HB she needed those fancy razors must have the same PR team as the dairy industry. It’s almond milk in our vegan home, for personal ethical reasons.
Jana Williamson says
We prefer only raw whole cow milk. But because it raises my blood sugar, as a diabetic, I had to give it up. Now we drink unsweetened almond milk.
Lauren says
The thing is that “Nut juice” just doesn’t have the same ring too it :/ 🙂 🙂
Rajena says
ROFL! This comment made me laugh way more than it should have. Thank you for starting my day out right 😀
Lauren says
Glad other people have the same twisted sense of humor, have a good day 🙂
Stephanie says
I personally am highly suspect about drinking milk as the rate of breast cancer is so low in China where they don’t drink it like in North America. Plus I don’t think adult humans really need it but there seems not to be any definitive evidence.
So I don’t consume it unless for baking, or cream in my coffee. I do buy 2% and have no issues with my family consuming it but they usually prefer to drink water. I do like cheese and yoghurt though.
Linda Sand says
I was born lactose intolerant so don’t do “real” milk. I tried soy several year ago and didn’t like it– it was gritty. I recently tried coconut and canned works for me in cooking and the carton of sweetened works on the rare bowl of cereal. Almonds are a decent source of protein but I prefer eating the actual nuts.
Alicia says
The dairy industry is getting crushed as vegans and people who eat paleo are rejecting cow’s milk and actually seeing improvements in their health. People have started to realize that it’s not natural to drink the milk of another species and not only that, it can be harmful. I am quite sure this is the dairy industry and their lobbyists trying to get some of their profits back. They want to make nut milks seem unhealthy as compared to cow’s milk. I think it’s utterly ridiculous but if I guarantee people will still call it milk. If the dairy industry is successful in this maybe they’ll call it mylk or something.
Diana says
I buy only skim milk, and have several milk servings a day. I consume more than a gallon per week all by myself. But, I never just drink a glass of plain milk. I use it for making a daily mocha, yogurt for daily fruit-honey smoothies, and a nighttime warm vanilla milk. I’m middle-aged, athletic and healthy. I think my milk intake is part of the reason I’ve been able to control my weight without being hungry all the time. Because of the daily serving of homemade yogurt, my stomach always feels settled. I usually buy my milk at Aldi or Dillons. Any brand at the right price will do, but if it is a brand I’m not familiar with, I do read the label to make sure it is milk and only milk.
Deborah says
My body makes too much calcium. Don’t ask me why. So, I use almond milk or coconut milk. For just drinking, I prefer coconut milk. I’ve been making my MIL protein shakes using almond or coconut milk as dairy products cause her to have excess gas. She is taking the protein shakes to help her gain weight. I do buy dairy milk to use in cooking and such.
Carrie says
I tried using almond milk in smoothies because I kept hearing how great it was…then I looked at the ingredients. Wow! This is not just almond milk…there is a ton of other stuff in there. I personally don’t drink any milk as I’ve never liked the taste. I buy whole organic milk for the family.
Lisa says
Another definition. Milk. extract sap, venom, or other substances from.
synonyms: draw off, siphon (off), pump off, tap, drain, extract
“milk a little of the liquid”
I love my dairy milk. Also i love almond milk. I do not think anyone believes the nut “milk” is being bought over dairy because it it called almond “milk” its a preferance and people cutting back on dairy or intollerant. The name change i think will make no difference in sales
Tebble says
We buy Skim Great Value (Wal-Mart) brand and it’s down to 1.28 a gallon! Thank heavens with 3 teenagers too 🙂
Patrice says
I buy my family organic 2%. I drink Vanilla Almond Milk
Zoe says
Dairy farmer here! Raw and only raw milk for my family 🙂 we go through about 3-4 gallons a week for the 6 of us, more if I decide to make cheese, yogurt or a gigantic pot of pudding.
As for the name change, not sure it will help with dairy sales but at least people will not be thinking they are getting the same nutrients that cow milk has to offer. It’s a tricky world we live in!
Dara says
I grew up on a dairy farm as well (although my parents have switched to beef cattle since – easier workload!). I’m surprised at everyone talking about how poorly the animals are treated. Our cattle weren’t treated like pets by any means, but they were well fed, tended when they were sick, and treated very humanely – at least on the farms I’ve seen. I’ve never been to a large commercial dairy so those may be different. Small producers, though, can’t afford to treat their animals ill, even if it weren’t a question of being kind to God’s creatures (which it is, of course!).
Cheri says
I appreciate this POV. I believe that much of what I hear about the suffering of cows is true, but I also take it with a grain of salt when the information includes all dairy farmers. I have a hard time believing that all cows everywhere have miserable lives or miserable ends. But it’s hard to know what’s fact and what’s exaggeration.
Suzanne says
Cashew milk and flax seed milk. My son is lactose intolerant. If I could get raw milk anywhere close I woukd drink that!
Julie says
I was so happy to see all the people who commented they don’t drink milk. I also agree that it is meant only for baby cows. The whole food industry needs changing. I used to be a big coupon shopper till I realized most of the products are not of value. You have the right idea about gardening for your food.
Lynn says
I started drinking almond milk a few years ago when my neighbor’s daughter started growing breasts at the age of 9 years. If the hormones in milk can cause early puberty, what will they do to promote tumor growth? I tried organic milk, but my family didn’t like the taste of it.
According to the almond milk in my frig, there is 45% calcium, 25% vitamin D, 4% iron, 50% vitamin E, and a few other nutrients. I get the unsweetened, so I am saving big on carbs…only 30 calories per serving. Those numbers work for me!
Brianna says
I had to go lactose free for several months last year and just could not acquire any of the tastes for all of the alternative milks. My coffee tasted terrible and it made me gag. I normally use 3-4 gallons of 2% cow milk and 1/2 gallon buttermilk every week in my house for my family of 5. I use to buy from a local dairy in KS when we lived there, but now we are in GA and I cannot find a dairy or even see any cows and I really wonder where my milk is coming from. I love fresh homemade dairy products made from humanely treated cows and I will pay more for it if I can find it. My kids loved our weekly trip to the dairy, watching the cows, listening to them, etc. As far as alternative milks being labeled as such, I think thy are labeled as it because of the physical attributes and resemblance to milk and not for the components to be like dairy milk. The only 2 true mammary produced milks in a store are goat milk and cow milk, the other nut milks are just a product of processing of nuts and grains. I’m not sure I know of an alternative name that would even be more appropriate for almond milk….almond extract is taken, almond meal is taken, almond butter is taken too (although technically not a dairy ‘butter’ so congress should work on ‘Butter’ after they do ‘Milk’….nonsense to me.
Jen F says
Raw milk here. We love our farm-her. She loves her cows. I am so thankful that we are able to support what she does. The farm has been in the family over 100 years and is flourishing under the love and care of this new generation. So proud of them and their hard work.
Bilkat says
Investigate what actually goes into cows milk/gets done to it for resale. You’ll stop drinking it.
Susan says
I am from a dairy family and was raised on raw milk, our kids were too. Since we retired, sold the farm, we drink 2%. I drink very little milk-as a diabetic I use unsweetened almond milk in my smoothies-less carbs/sugars. Dairies shipping to our cooperative are hormone-free. Milk from cows on antibiotics is dumped (at the dairy) until it tested antibiotic free. Samples are taken from every pickup and randomly tested. If you shipped antibiotic milk the tanker was dumped and the dairy could be financially responsible for the entire tank.
As for the treatment of cows–happy cows are good producers. Our cows were treated well. Being “subjected” to milking machines? If you were late for milking there was the entire herd bawling to get in the barn!
Milk is not for everyone–there are allergies and intolerance of many foods. But it’s not universally bad!
Zoe says
Wonderful comment Susan! Definitely wouldn’t get much milk if the cows were unhappy 🙂
Lace Faerie says
Organic whole milk. Grass fed organic whole milk is the best tasting!
Practical Parsimony says
When the allergist declared I was severely allergic to all mammal products, my world was turned upside down and whirled around until I was dizzy. I am also allergic to most tree nuts and soy. I tried Red Diamond almond milk and was disgusted. I tried the chocolate milk and it was strong I had to put half regular almond milk in it. I really hated it all. After a month of this diet and no wheat, either, I discovered I was violently allergic to any kind of wheat. Cow milk causes tinnitus, no gas. However, I drink less milk and eat less dairy products like cheese, yogurt, etc. When I have sinus problems or earaches, I quit milk and do not get a fever and need an antibiotic.
Plus, I just eat chicken and turkey. The allergy to mammal products is so bad that I now carry an epi-pen.
People do need to know there is not the same nutrition in nut milk as in mammal milk. That way, they can assure their children get the nutrition the need when they are forming bones.
I remember raw milk from Aunt Willie’s farm in Mississippi 65-years ago. I hated it then and won’t try it again!
PollyS says
We mostly use Soy Milk. But I pretty much buy any nut milk that is on sale. My favorite is unsweetened almond milk.
Rarely do we drink it straight, it’s mostly for recipes and for putting on cereal.
kim mann says
I drink coconut milk, unflavored and unsweetened. And idk why you think there’s very little calcium in alternate milks! The brand I buy has almost double the calcium as cow milk.
Suzanne says
My baby, who I breast feed, doesn’t do well with dairy so I drink rice milk. I can’t have any milk products at the moment. I have found great, albeit expensive, replacements for everything but cheese. I miss cheese.
Meg C says
When my son was born (7 years ago) he had the “worst colic” (dr’s words) our pediatrician had seen and he immediately recommended 2 things to us: 1) drop all dairy products and 2) see a lacatation consultant. The LC agreed with the dairy & wanted me to cut out all soy products too. We completely dropped dairy from our diets and within 7 days our son was significantly better (not colic free but better). I nursed him for 18 mos and learned that I could live, and be happy, without cows milk. Over time, I had reintroduced dairy into our diets but when my daughter was born, I immediately gave up all dairy (did not even wait for “symptoms” of dairy intolerance to show up with her!) and went dairy free for the 2 years I nursed her.
Long story short, we learned life without dairy can still be good and that we didn’t miss things after a while (not even cheese). :-). I’m not giving up my almond milk, even if they change the name. 🙂
Linda says
There are studies that suggest humans shouldn’t drink cows milk. Humans are the only life form that consumes another mammals secretion. Cows milk is full of fat solely for the purpose of taking the calf to a grown cow in a short period of time. Same for human breast milk, to nourish and help the baby gain weight and thrive.
I drink water, tea and coffee. I use almond milk for cooking and baking. Over the years I’ve tried soy and coconut milks. I gave up dairy in the 80’s when I discovered cows milk wasn’t natural or necessary. On the upside it helped my cholesterol numbers!
Peg says
I quit drinking milk years ago when I finally made the connection between it and the migraines I was having. Don’t eat ice cream, very little cheese, but do use butter. I believe people aren’t meant to drink it past infancy. Almond milk is what I use in recipes that call for milk. And sometimes water or broth works okay as well.
Linda says
I am amazed at the response of readers. If you had asked whether we thought a grocery product should be labeled truthfully, I think the response would be very different.
My grandson was born with a severe milk allergy, and has been raised on rice milk. He is a healthy man because of/or despite this. Consequently, I’d be the last person to rail against other products as milk substitutes. But I am for correct labeling. Cheese made largely from oil has to be called “cheese product” rather than cheese. Regardless of the dairy industry interests, or the fact that so many of us buy products currently called “milk” that technically are not, I’d like to see them identified on the label as “Plant Based Milk” or some other combination of words that would key the consumer in to what they are buying. For those with allergies, it is a life saving thing to be able to know exactly what they are buying.
On a totally different subject, this is the only blog I have ever read, yet I find myself very involved with it. Mavis, thank you!
Angela says
Almond milk typically has more calcium than Cow milk and Soy milk has the same protein. Or if you buy a fortified Soy milk or Almond milk, it will have the same nutrition if not better. Cow milk has been shown to actually be an unhealthy form of calcium for humans: https://saveourbones.com/osteoporosis-milk-myth/
The dairy industry pays big money to make people believe that it is healthy. 🙁
Angela says
Also, they do already have this rule in other countries, so I don’t really care if they call it Almond milk or Almond drink. If it helps someone out, awesome! I could see it being confusing if you have a milk allergy and don’t know English well.
Alison says
We have used the dairy alternatives when one or more of us has been on an elimination diet, but now that we are not, we are back to cow dairy products with an occasional package of goat cheese or some canned coconut milk for selected recipes. We prefer the taste.
I drastically cut our almond usage down to almost none when I had a family member remind me that it takes one gallon of water to make one almond. I grew up in California. With their water issues, that statistic shocked and astounded me.
Angela says
I agree that is a lot of water usage for almonds! But unfortunately, dairy is even worse http://www.onegreenplanet.org/news/whats-better-for-you-almond-or-dairy-milk/
If water usage is your main concern, I think coconut milk /may/ use the least but I’m really not sure so you should probably look into it more if you’re interested.
kim says
Coconut milk is my drug of choice. Taste & consistency beats the other non dairy “milks” IMHO
sarah says
Raw milk from my farmer down the road! He is a 3rd generation farmer with a small herd of 20 milk cows. All the animals are treated very well, fed of pasture grasses and hay, and the taste is the best. I would suggest you check out the Weston A. Price foundation for information about processed/raw milk.
Alyson says
None of our family (mother, father, 2 teenage boys) drink milk of any variety, really. My oldest son was *incredibly* “allergic” to milk as a baby – his intestinal tract would bleed if I had something like Uncle Ben’s (which had “natural flavors”, but no explicitly dairy ingredients). So the whole family was off dairy until he was almost 4 and started being able to tolerate small amounts. My youngest was somewhat sensitive to dairy as an infant and toddler, too, and has to choose when he has ice cream.
My youngest uses almond milk on his cereal. He and I use half-and-half in our tea sometimes. Since I already have it on hand, I use half-and-half as milk in most recipes, though we don’t make a lot of milk-based recipes. The only two meals I can think of are mac&cheese and clam chowder.
We like hemp milk, too, in things like chai, but it’s harder to come by. Coconut milk isn’t used much except in recipes that call for it.
Leslie says
When I drink milk, I get whole. It lasts SO MUCH LONGER.