Dunkin’ Donuts Offers First Nationwide Non-Dairy Milk Option
We have great news for all you vegan coffee fans: the legendary and extremely popular East Coast coffeehouse Dunkin’ Donuts announced on September 3 that they have partnered with Blue Diamond to begin offering Vanilla Almond Breeze Almond Milk as a dairy-free option for customers nationwide.
In their press release, representatives of Dunkin’ Donuts said they want to provide their customers with more beverage options. This is the first non-dairy milk available at most Dunkin’ stores, though soy milk has been available at certain locations in the past. With the Blue Diamond partnership, there is going to be a big increase in marketing for non-dairy products. Since coffeeshops are one of the biggest consumers of dairy milk, expanding Dunkin’s milk options can and hopefully will have a large positive impact on demand.
Non-Dairy Milk Consumption Has Increased Internationally
Non-dairy milk consumption is not only increasing in the U.S., but across the pond too. Recent studies show a growth in popularity for non-dairy products in the United Kingdom. On July 28, 2014, The Daily Mail, a UK news source, reported an estimated 155 percent increase between 2011 and 2013 in the sales of products such as soy, almond, and coconut milk – a figure equivalent to one in five households.
This statistic is great news for the vegan community, as it proves the rising shift in nutrition education. Communities all over are beginning to understand the positive changes that non-dairy milk can have on a person’s health. Substituting almond milk for traditional dairy, for example, lessens your risk for high cholesterol since dairy milk can contain high amounts of saturated fats. Almond milk also has high amounts of vitamins, antioxidants and minerals such as vitamin E, zinc, iron and magnesium.
The Elevated Demand For More Non-Dairy Milk Will Change the Supply
And of course, ridding your diet of dairy means great things for cows! In 2008, approximately 93 million cows were producing milk in the United States. These female cows are impregnated numerous times throughout their life in order to provide a constant supply of milk for dairy farmers and satisfy our society’s high demand for dairy products. As stated by Farm Sanctuary, “In 2007, the average cow in the dairy industry was forced to produce more than 20,000 lbs of milk in one year – more than double the milk produced 40 years before.” Hopefully, the rising popularity of alternative milk may be the first sign of a decrease in one consumer demand and an increase in another.
Switching from cow’s milk to a plant-based milk also creates a huge positive change for out planet. Land that would be used for dairy farms can instead be used to grow soy beans, almond trees, rice, and other sources of plant-based milks. Additionally, cows are one of the leading producers of methane, a harmful gas that contributes to global warming.
If we continue to spread the word on alternative milks, we can help increase the well-being of dairy cows, our health and our planet’s environment, too!
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