• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

Bars, bowling alleys, and movie theaters cost too much to run and visit. Americans have run out of places to hang out and we're paying with our health

2

Electric air taxis are finally ready for takeoff

3

Sam Altman says a 'cool use case' for ChatGPT is a daily AI podcast about your kids. The replies were brutal

1

Bars, bowling alleys, and movie theaters cost too much to run and visit. Americans have run out of places to hang out and we're paying with our health

2

Electric air taxis are finally ready for takeoff

3

Sam Altman says a 'cool use case' for ChatGPT is a daily AI podcast about your kids. The replies were brutal
Retailmilk

Here’s How to Sort Through the Milk Aisle’s Plant Explosion

By
Beth Kowitt
Beth Kowitt
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Beth Kowitt
Beth Kowitt
Down Arrow Button Icon
August 24, 2016, 11:00 AM ET
Branded Milk Stock Low As Consumers Avoid Home Brands
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MAY 24: Fridges stocked with milk are seen in a Coles supermarket on May 24, 2016 in Sydney, Australia. Coles shelves are low on branded milk stock as consumers purchase more expensive brands in support of local farmers. Australians are rallying around it's dairy farmers by opting to purchase branded milk rather than the cheaper store brands after the country's largest dairy company Murray Goulburn last month cut the price it pays suppliers by 15%. (Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images)Getty Images
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.
Click to enlarge.

The popularity of soy milk, long the creamer of choice for those unwilling to consume an animal product, has soured in recent years. (For more on this, read The Fall of Soy Milk.) That’s led to the rise of refrigerator full of plant-based alternatives.

But not all non-milk is created equal. If you’re steering clear of heifers, here’s the breakdown on what you should be drinking instead.

What Kind of Milk Should You Be Drinking?

▸ Almond

Brand example: Almond Breeze
Pros: It’s low in calories and has no cholesterol.
Cons: Low protein. It’s very water-intensive— requiring a gallon per almond (still better than cow milk)—and most U.S. almonds are grown in drought-ridden California.
https://www.instagram.com/p/9ETwmoPkxE/?taken-by=almondbreeze

 

▸ Coconut

Brand example: So Delicious
Pros: A creamy, rich taste. High in saturated fats, which are in vogue.
Cons: Lacking in protein. Many coconut farmers live in poverty.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BIgOtKoAY-E/?taken-by=so_delicious&hl=en

 

▸ Hemp

Brand example: Tempt
Pros: The farmer-friendly crop is part of the plant-based subset of seed milk (think chia, flax, and sunflower). Great for its omega-3 and omega-6 benefits.
Cons: It has lower protein than milk and soy, and is associated with its illicit cousin, marijuana.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BIi6wVChRgH/?taken-by=tempthemp

 

▸ Rice

Brand example: Rice Dream
Pros: The sweetness comes from naturally occurring sugars. Good for people with soy, nut, and dairy allergies.
Cons: It’s high in carbohydrates and very low in protein. Rice cultivation also requires a lot of water and emits methane.
https://www.instagram.com/p/7X0ZKSEKyo/?taken-by=ricedream.eu

 

▸ Yellow Pea

Brand example: Ripple
Pros: It’s significantly less water-intensive than almond and cow milk, and has more protein than other plant-based alternatives.
Cons: Ripple uses peas from France (not great for its carbon footprint) but is looking for a U.S. source.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BJYmCAWDUfy/
 

For more on milk sales, watch this video:

A version of this article appears in the September 1, 2016 issue of Fortune with the headline “Soy Milk Is Over. Long Live Coconut Milk.”

About the Author
By Beth Kowitt
LinkedIn iconTwitter icon
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Retail

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • TikTok icon
  • YouTube icon

Latest in Retail

The Porsche Design Tower in Sunny Isles Beach, Florida.
Real EstateLuxury
From Porsche penthouses to Nobu lofts: Inside the $67 billion boom in luxury branded residences
By Zahra TayebAugust 4, 2026
4 hours ago
Photo of Christopher Nolan
Arts & Entertainmentimax
‘A hidden gem’: Odyssey fans are shelling out up to $2,000 to buy 70mm IMAX tickets on eBay
By Sarah GlodekAugust 3, 2026
18 hours ago
Tommy Bahama CEO Doug Wood
RetailFashion
Go ahead, make fun of Tommy Bahama. The CEO is happy to join you, and he’s probably not a fan of your preppy shorts
By Catherina GioinoAugust 3, 2026
18 hours ago
How Barnes & Noble CEO James Daunt tapped his indie bookstore cred to revive the big-box chain
C-Suitechief executive officer (CEO)
How Barnes & Noble CEO James Daunt tapped his indie bookstore cred to revive the big-box chain
By Phil WahbaAugust 3, 2026
1 day ago
Photo of Hudson Leogrande
SuccessEntrepreneurs
He was homeless at 16. Now he sits on the board of David Beckham’s wellness company and his business is about to hit $1 billion in revenue
By Emma BurleighAugust 2, 2026
2 days ago
Basic economics show why Mamdani’s socialist grocery stores in NYC are destined to fail
RetailEconomics
Basic economics show why Mamdani’s socialist grocery stores in NYC are destined to fail
By Shawn TullyAugust 2, 2026
2 days ago

Most Popular

Bars, bowling alleys, and movie theaters cost too much to run and visit. Americans have run out of places to hang out and we're paying with our health
North America
Bars, bowling alleys, and movie theaters cost too much to run and visit. Americans have run out of places to hang out and we're paying with our health
By Catherina GioinoAugust 2, 2026
2 days ago
Electric air taxis are finally ready for takeoff
Magazine
Electric air taxis are finally ready for takeoff
By Alexei OreskovicAugust 3, 2026
1 day ago
Sam Altman says a 'cool use case' for ChatGPT is a daily AI podcast about your kids. The replies were brutal
AI
Sam Altman says a 'cool use case' for ChatGPT is a daily AI podcast about your kids. The replies were brutal
By Holly Van Leuven and Morning BrewAugust 3, 2026
23 hours ago
Current price of oil as of August 3, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of August 3, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerAugust 3, 2026
24 hours ago
The labor market could become so backward that the economy will have to shed jobs to keep unemployment steady
Economy
The labor market could become so backward that the economy will have to shed jobs to keep unemployment steady
By Jason MaAugust 1, 2026
2 days ago
Wall Street bulls are starting to admit the earnings bubble is real—and the 60/40 portfolio may be the first casualty
Investing
Wall Street bulls are starting to admit the earnings bubble is real—and the 60/40 portfolio may be the first casualty
By Nick LichtenbergAugust 3, 2026
19 hours ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.