Is Plant-Based Milk Good for You? This Company is Making it Healthier

Nearly half (49 percent) of Gen Z consumers admit to feeling ashamed while ordering dairy milk in public. The decades of "Got Milk?" campaigns and regular dairy consumption are quickly becoming relics of the not-so-distant past as younger Americans opt for healthier, more sustainable options. But one question lingers: Is plant-based milk actually healthier? Or do plant-based consumers abandon nutrients when they choose dairy-free alternatives?

Danone, the international food giant responsible for Silk, So Delicious, and Vega, intends to ensure that its plant-based milk products contain optimal nutrient levels when compared to conventional cow's milk. The company just announced that it will devote $22 million toward wellness initiatives that will improve its plant-based brands, providing American consumers with the healthiest plant-based milk alternatives available.

Danone revealed its plans during the recent White House conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health, hosted by President Joe Biden to discuss solutions to hunger and food insecurity in the United States. The major food conglomerate intends to reformulate over 70 percent of its plant-based beverages to optimize their nutrient density by 2030.

“We are honored to have the opportunity to be part of the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health – an event which provides a historic opportunity to engage stakeholders across the food system to address these critical topics," Shane Grant, CEO at Danone North America, said during a conference at the White House this week.

“At Danone, our mission to bring health through food to as many people as possible is embedded into everything we do, and for the last 50 years, we’ve worked to create both shareholder and societal value through what we call our Dual Project. The investment we announced today illustrates our mission in action.”

Danone revealed its plans to update its product portfolio's nutritional profile in response to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announcement that it plans to revise the requirements for "healthy" food labels. The FDA aims to limit the saturated fat, sugar, and sodium contents of "healthy" labeled products. Immediately after, the International Dairy Foods Association urged the FDA to allow dairy manufacturers to be allowed higher sugar content for taste.

Now, Danone will spend the remainder of the decade improving its product selection to cater to health-conscious Americans. The new wellness initiative will also tackle food insecurity through plant-based and sustainable solutions.

Last week, the White House hosted its first conference on health and nutrition in over 50 years, inviting hundreds of attendees including doctors, food company executives, farmers, and policymakers, as well as non-profits, all called on to work together and commit over $8 billion toward the goal of ending hunger and make nutritious, healthy foods affordable and accessible to all Americans.

During the conference, Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA) –– a national nonprofit working to improve food equity –– unveiled new corporate partners in its commitment to add 100 million additional servings of vegetables, fruits, and beans to the U.S. marketplace by 2025. The campaign dedicated to combating food insecurity enlisted major companies and organizations including Dole Packaged Foods, Instacart, International Fresh Produce Association, KinderCare Learning Companies, and the National Automatic Merchandising Association.

“In every country in the world, in every state in this country, no matter what else divides us, if a parent cannot feed a child, there’s nothing else that matters to that parent," President Joe Biden said during the White House conference.

For more plant-based happenings, visit The Beet's News stories. 

Pinto beans have 78.7 milligrams in one cup so add these to any salad, dip or burrito.

Molasses has 82 milligrams in 2 tablespoons. Use it in baking instead of sugar. Look for Blackstrap molasses, and keep in mind that these have been used in recipes for 100s of years, especially in the South. Molasses is also believed to help relieve stress and anxiety.

Tempeh has 96 milligrams of calcium in 100 grams when cooked. You can make chicken substitute from it.

Tofu has about 104mg in one ounce when prepared pan-fried. Throw it in your stir fry, or order it at your next Chinese meal with veggies. It's the perfect non-meat protein. (Note look for the calcium quotient on the Nutrition Facts on the label.)

Bok choy has 158 milligrams of calcium in one cup. Add it to your soup, stir fry or salad.

Soybeans have 175 milligrams of calcium per cup. Sprinkle them on a salad.

Kale has 177 milligrams in one cup. The heroic green makes a great salad, goes in smoothies and delivers a healthy dose of fiber as well.

Turnip greens have 197 milligrams in one cup. Add them to your favorite soup or smoothie.

Collard greens have 268 milligrams of calcium in one cup. Substitute it for string beans.

Alternate milks like almond, soy or rice milk have 300-500 milligrams of calcium in 8 ounces so use any of these on your cereal or in your morning smoothie.