Milk substitute
A milk substitute is a liquid meant to replace the milk from a mammal. It is a whitish liquid that contains similar amounts of proteins, fats, and other vitamins and minerals as milk. A milk substitute can replace dairy milk in tea, coffee, or a recipe. This overlaps with, but is distinct from, plant milk, which is used by those who want to avoid animal products for health or ethical reasons, including vegans, or because of taste preference.
Some milk substitutes are marketed to consumers as healthier than cow's milk, because they may be lower in saturated fat and, if they are entirely free of animal products, cholesterol-free. When milk substitutes are lacking in vitamins or dietary minerals present in dairy milk (such as vitamin B12 or calcium), they are usually fortified.
Humans consume milk because of the nutritional value, especially minerals like calcium, vitamins such as B12, and the high protein content, but also due to taste preference, as all human babies are weaned on mothers milk or similar infant formula, which leads to positive taste connotations later in life. Therefore, any milk substitute is usually required to meet such standards.
Dairy milk is required by the federal government to contain a certain amount of vitamins A and D. Unlike dairy milk, fortification of vitamins in milk substitutes are currently not required by federal law.
Substitution products for milk were created due to consumer demand. Customers worldwide wished for healthier beverages tasting and looking like milk, and a way of obtaining the same nutrients as in cow milk, but without the often present antibiotics, growth hormones, and painkillers caused by modern factory farming. Also very important is the fact that such substitutes allow vegans, and people who are seriously ill (gout, PKU, rheumatoid arthritis etc. require the avoidance of foods with high protein content because of the purine levels, among other factors), lactose intolerant, or allergic to dairy protein, to enjoy all commonly cow milk based foods without health problems or ethical concerns.
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