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Consumption of Real Dairy Remains Strong

Consumption of Real Dairy Remains Strong, But Almost Half of U.S. Consumers Enjoy Both Dairy Products and Dairy Alternatives

Dairy alternatives have exploded in popularity in the past few years. Despite their rising status, the global consumption of real dairy products remains strong, according to new research from Minneapolis-based Cargill.

Cargill’s research was based on surveys of consumers in the United States, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, the U.K., France, Spain, Germany, Denmark, Russia, China, Japan and Indonesia. The company shared key findings at the Natural Products Expo West show, held in Anaheim, Calif., this past March. A few highlights from the U.S. consumer survey can be found here and are listed below. 

Highlights from Survey

Only 12% of U.S. Consumers Prefer Dairy Alternatives

  • 42% consume both
  • 24% have tried dairy alternatives, but don’t like them
  • 21% have never tried dairy alternatives
  • 8% prefer dairy alternatives but also consumer real dairy
  • 4% consume only dairy alternatives

Only 13% of U.S. Consumers are Dairy Avoiders 

  • 67% regular part of my diet
  • 20% consume, but not on a regular basis
  • 10% limit my consumption
  • 3% don’t eat at all
U.S. Consumers’ Top 10 Reasons for Dairy Avoidance
  • Lactose Intolerance – 35%
  • Dairy Sensitivity/Allergy – 26%
  • Avoiding Added Growth Hormones – 24%
  • To Reduce My Saturated Fat Consumption – 24%
  • Cutting Back on Dairy as I Age – 23%
  • Animal Rights/Cruelty Issues – 20%
  • Because it’s an Animal Product – 19%
  • Avoiding Added Antibiotics in Dairy – 18%
  • To Reduce My Cholesterol – 18%
  • To Reduce My Calorie Consumption – 17%

Note: Respondents were among the subset of survey respondents who said they avoid or limit dairy. Respondents could select more than one response. 

U.S. Consumers’ Dairy Perceptions
  • 67% – I expect dairy products to have few ingredients
  • 63% – I prefer the taste of real dairy over dairy alternatives
  • 63% – Real dairy is more satisfying than dairy alternatives
  • 60% – I seek dairy products for bone-health benefits like calcium
  • 56% – Real dairy is a necessary part of a balanced diet
  • 56% – Ingredients help me determine if a dairy product is healthy
  • 56% – Ingredients help me determine if a dairy product is highly processed
  • 49% – I’ll pay more for dairy products I consider to be healthier
  • 48% – I pay less attention to ingredients in indulgent dairy products than I do with a healthier product
  • 48% – I especially look at sugar content in dairy products I’ll serve to my children
  • 48% – People can eat a balanced diet without consuming real dairy

Note: Respondents were asked to what extent they agreed or disagreed with each statement, with 5 representing the highest level of agreement. The percentages reflect the combination of number 5 and number 4 responses. 

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