Foods for Special Dietary Needs: Non-dairy Plant-based Milk Substitutes and Fermented Dairy-type Products.

Abstract in brief

• Increasingly, consumers are choosing plant-based milk substitutes for health reasons like lactose intolerance or milk allergies, as well as due to cost and availability issues worldwide.
• These plant-based alternatives are made by extracting plant material in water, then stabilizing and processing the suspension to resemble cow's milk, but they often have different flavors that may not suit everyone's tastes.
• Nutritional content varies depending on the plant source and processing methods; some may have low levels of protein and calcium, so consumers should be aware when replacing dairy to ensure their diet remains balanced and adequate.]