No whey! Shortage fears as people want more high-protein products

Global consumers are increasingly seeking protein in their diets, leading to a surge in demand that the dairy industry is struggling to meet. Once primarily used by athletes and older adults in smoothies and shakes, whey protein concentrate – a byproduct of cheese-making – is now being incorporated into a vast array of everyday food items.

Food manufacturers are adding the ingredient to everything from breakfast cereals and Pop-Tarts to potato crisps, bagels, tortillas, and even Starbucks beverages, reflecting a widespread effort to appeal to ingredient-focused shoppers. This eagerness has, however, triggered shortages of food-grade whey protein and driven prices to unprecedented levels.

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Here’s what’s happening with whey protein and when strained supplies might be alleviated. Milk contains two proteins: casein and whey. During the cheese-making process, the casein – which forms solid curds – is separated from the liquid whey, which is dried to form a powder. Every pound of cheese yields nine pounds of whey, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

U.S. milk consumption has fallen for decades as Americans shifted to beverages like sodas. But the appetite for cheese remained strong, Wolfley said. A nation of cheese-eaters generated a lot of whey protein, and some of the excess used to be exported to China and other countries.

The domestic hunger for high-protein snacks and meals is now keeping more whey protein in the U.S. for use as a food additive or a nutritional supplement. U.S. exports of 80% whey protein concentrate and whey protein isolate to China fell 47% from January through April compared to the same four-month period a year ago, according to Vesper, an Amsterdam-based company that tracks commodity prices.

“There simply isn’t enough product for the U.S. customer, and exports have therefore been paused as much as possible,” said Jasper Endlich, a Vesper dairy analyst. China is seeking more whey protein from Europe, which also is seeing shortages thanks to reduced U.S. exports, Endlich said.

https://www.msn.com/en-au/foodanddrink/other/no-whey-shortage-fears-as-people-want-more-high-protein-products/ar-AA25BbD8