Lower protein content and calcium availability are just two factors which make plant-based drinks nutritionally inferior to cow’s milk, new research published in the International Dairy Journal has found.

The research, Nutrient density and nutritional value of milk and plant-based alternatives, said that to avoid potentially severe illnesses brought about by nutritional deficiencies, consumers are advised to not think of plant-based drinks as complete nutritional alternatives to cow’s milk.

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Based on nutritional differences, the research recommended that labelling requirements and public education initiatives should be conducted to ensure that the public does not mistake plant drinks for direct nutritional alternatives to bovine milk.

Milk and 17 plant-based drinks were compared, with the average protein content of the plant-based drinks averaging at 48% of the protein content of whole cow’s milk.

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