Raw milk is gaining ground as an ingredient in ice cream, yoghurt and kefir, and the market is set to grow substantially by 2033. But both the health effects and the very principle of taking the milk from calves straight after birth remain contested.
Colostrum, the raw milk a cow produces in the days immediately after calving, is making rapid inroads into the functional food segment. According to market research firm Grand View Research, the market is forecast to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 7.1% through to 2033, and the ingredient now features on significantly more menus than it did a year ago. That is according to figures from analytics platform Tastewise, as reported by DairyReporter.
Colostrum is already used in ice cream, kefir, yoghurt and infant formula, and is benefiting from rising consumer interest in “clean label” products. But for dairies considering entering the market, that growth comes with two challenges.
The evidence is mixed
Colostrum contains antimicrobial peptides, growth factors and immunoglobulins that are naturally tailored to the needs of the newborn calf. Its effects on adult humans, however, are less well documented: several systematic reviews report mixed or inconclusive findings, and Zoe, a company specialising in gut health research, has openly warned against the ingredient as a wellness trend lacking solid evidence.
Animal welfare is the sore point
The more sensitive challenge is animal welfare. Because colostrum sold for human consumption does not go to the calf, the ingredient has drawn criticism from, among others, animal rights organisation PETA, which states that it is “not meant for humans”. For dairies, this means that any move into colostrum requires clear documentation that the milk is not being taken at the expense of calves’ nutrition.
The ingredient is also difficult to substitute. According to Dr Stella Child of The Good Food Institute Europe, a cow’s colostrum is such a complex mix of proteins, minerals and antibodies that current precision fermentation technology cannot fully replicate it. PETA confirms that no vegan alternative currently exists on the market.
Colostrum remains a niche category in the Nordics, but global growth makes it likely that more players will take a closer look at the market in the coming years – with a watchful eye on how the animal welfare debate is handled communicatively.
By Maja Løvstrup
Source: DairyReporter.com
Photo: Unsplash / Megumi Nachev
