Protect The Harvest | Not all “Milk” is Milk: The Plant-Based Deception

Milk: A white or yellowish emulsion secreted by the mammary glands of female mammals suckling their young and usually consisting of fats, proteins, sugars, vitamins, and minerals suspended in water.
– Webster’s New World College Dictionary, Fourth Edition

While the dictionary definition of “milk” admittedly also references plant-based liquids such as coconut “milk,” today’s societal definition covers just about anything a food processor can squeeze from a plant and wants to label as “milk.” By today’s loose definition, one could probably make the case that olive oil or cactus juice is “milk.” The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines milk as “the lacteal secretion, practically free from colostrums, obtained by the complete milking of one or more healthy cows.” That doesn’t sound like almond, soy, or other plant-based impersonators of true “milk.”

Yet, a few decades ago the dairy industry lost control of its own product definition when it agreed to magnanimously allow competing products to use the term “milk” to market and sell their liquid offerings. Much to the chagrin of the dairy industry, those non-dairy “milk” marketing efforts have been successful, adversely impacting dairy milk sales.

Today, a common grocery store decision that shoppers must make is which “milk” to buy. With dozens of options to choose from, it can be overwhelming.