Almond Milk Has Become A Staple, But There’s A Dark Side To The Dairy-Free Drink

In recent years, cow’s milk alternatives have become all the rage. They’re practically everywhere, in fact, and in varieties ranging all the way from oat to even pea. But despite this plethora of choice, almond milk seems to be particularly sought after. For example, figures from a 2018 Nielsen study show that U.S. sales of the drink had increased by 250 percent over the past half-decade.

It’s projected that almond milk’s popularity won’t be waning anytime soon, either. Grand View Research predicts that sales of the drink will increase internationally by just over 14 percent a year for the foreseeable future. And as you may have guessed, dairy producers are apparently bearing the brunt of this shift in consumer preferences.

The Dairy Farmers of America have reported that from 2017 to 2018, the sale of traditional cow’s milk in the U.S. plunged by over $1 billion. And while these two sets of statistics haven’t been officially linked, they’re sometimes discussed in tandem when the topic of plant-based milk is brought up.

As we’ll see later, though, the alleged connection between vegan milk varieties and the closure of dairy farms isn’t the only potential consequence of this relatively new craze. Indeed, there’s much more to plant-based alternatives than meets the eye – especially when it comes to almond milk. For now, though, let’s take a closer look at how this particular nutty beverage is produced and why people have become so obsessed with it.

The production of almond milk involves grinding said nuts with water and then extracting the soggy pulp to leave a smooth, white liquid. What emerges as a result of this process, however, is something that looks a lot like normal cow’s milk. And as such, you’d probably be forgiven for wondering just what all the fuss is about.

Well, for people who can’t have dairy – owing to an allergy, say, or an intolerance – almond milk is seen as a great option. Now, almost everyone can enjoy a bowl of porridge or a frothy cappuccino with relatively little compromise. After all, almond milk not only looks like its cow-derived counterpart, but it also can be just as cold, refreshing and nutritious. The only real discernible difference is the subtle nutty flavor – but for some, this is an added bonus.

Of course, the rise in veganism has also led to the burgeoning popularity of almond milk. Incredibly, the number of vegans in the U.S. increased by 600 percent in the three years from 2014, according to Global Data. And many of these people have made this choice because they believe they should not eat foods or use products that are derived from animals.

Furthermore, while cows don’t have to die in order for humans to procure their milk, vegans have argued that this process isn’t all that pleasant for the animals involved. As a result, this is enough to put some people off dairy for good.

Others, meanwhile, have chosen to plump for almond milk over the dairy variety for health-related reasons. You see, the nutty alternative is lower in calories than regular milk, making it a good option for those looking to shed a few pounds. According to Healthline, a glass of red-top milk comes in at almost 150 calories, whereas the equivalent measure of the almond version is merely 50 calories.

Almond milk is also rich in some of the nutrients that we need to thrive – specifically vitamins E and D. Vitamin E is known for being able to help support your immune system, and it’s said to be particularly great for keeping your skin and eyes in peak condition.

And while vitamin E isn’t found in regular milk, the almond variety is seemingly bursting with the antioxidant. Some brands of the beverage are better for you than others; in general, though, Healthline says that a single glass of the nutty drink can provide up to half of your daily recommended vitamin E intake. The benefits don’t stop there, either.

You see, almond milk is also often enriched with vitamin D – a nutrient that many humans are lacking. That’s right: the nature of our lengthy working days and busy lives mean that up to half of the U.S. population aren't taking in sufficient levels of this all-important vitamin.

Vitamin D, as you may well be aware, is crucial for healthy bone development; it has also been linked to the prevention of common ailments such as hypertension. So, while traditional dairy milk is generally seen as the best drink for strong bones, it seems as though almond milk may be just as good a choice.

And the nutty alternative is certainly winning when it comes to sugar content. Healthline has claimed that a glass of regular milk has over ten grams of carbohydrates, with the majority of this coming from lactose – a form of sugar. The same amount of unsweetened almond milk, on the other hand, only includes up to two grams of carbohydrates.

Nevertheless, you must ensure you make the right choice when buying almond milk, as a lot of brands like to add sweetener to the beverage. And according to the American Heart Association, most men shouldn't consume more than around 36 grams of added sugar per day and women only 25 grams each. Ultimately, then, a glass of almond milk could represent around half of your recommended intake.

Still, as we’ve seen, almond milk offers a host of other benefits. And with all that in mind, it’s perhaps unsurprising that this particular dairy-free alternative has taken off with such unstoppable force. Yet this shift in consumer habits hasn’t just impacted the dairy industry. Most notably, the large-scale farming of almonds is causing unprecedented and deadly consequences elsewhere.

And, worryingly, there’s one particular species suffering at the hands of society’s fixation with almonds: bees. These somewhat underrated insects are in fact incredibly important when it comes to human survival, as the majority of food we eat is affected in some way by bees’ pollination.

But the popularity of almonds in particular is proving detrimental to a large number of hives. You see, the majority of the world’s almonds are farmed in the large, flat area of land in the center of California. According to a January 2020 report by The Guardian, more than two billion pounds of the nuts are grown there each year.

But what is it about the farming process that’s causing bees so much harm? Well, there are actually a couple of factors. While bees hibernate during the cooler months, this is when the almond trees need to be pollinated. And in order for this to happen, the duration of the hive’s inactive period is cut short by up to eight weeks – thus disrupting the bees’ innate rhythms.

The fact that the farming of almonds in California happens on such a grand scale is also causing problems. Given the huge number of hives needed to keep up with this demand, bees are likely to come into contact with one another – and this isn’t good for their health.

In the same way that diseases can spread between human communities, the close proximity of bees can lead to the easy transmission of illness. And Dennis Arp, a beekeeper from Arizona, is just one of the many people in the industry who has personally witnessed the deterioration of his hive’s collective health.

Arp told The Guardian, “Bees are exposed to all kinds of diseases in California. There can be hundreds of thousands of hives from multiple beekeepers in one staging area. It is like letting your bees go into a singles bar, and then they have unprotected sex.”

For Arp, the worst infestation his bees have experienced has been from tracheal mites. And owing to reasons that we’ve already explained, the keeper’s hives are much more susceptible to catching these mites when they’re working on the almond farms. The Varroa destructor is another parasite that’s particularly deadly, as it survives by latching on to the bee and destroying its immune system.

All is not lost, though. In the same way that humans use vaccinations to prevent disease, beekeepers such as Arp can put measures in place to protect their hives from any attacks. Thankfully, there are chemicals specifically formulated to help quash the number of mites present in colonies.

But one element that beekeepers have limited control over is the excessive use of pesticides used in the farming of almonds. Interestingly, the almond trees are smothered with greater quantities of the chemicals than are normally used on other kinds of crops. And as you may have already guessed, this is also proving detrimental to the health of hives.

Pesticides – which have been linked to cancer in humans – can certainly play havoc with a swarm. And while some such toxins may cause bees to become disorientated and experience a loss of flight, other stronger chemicals lead to instant death. According to The Guardian, one of the most common pesticides used is herbicide glyphosate – a chemical that can be both carcinogenic to humans and lethal to bees.

So with all of the aforementioned issues to contend with, the situation for bees is arguably quite bleak. Rather shockingly, The Guardian has claimed that in the United States, more of the insects are killed each year than every other farmed animal and fish put together.

Beekeepers therefore face huge losses every year. Arp, for example, has said that, on an annual basis, he consistently finds his hives shrunk in size by almost a third. And Nate Donley, a scientist at Arizona’s Center for Biological Diversity, had his own views on the statistics. He told The Guardian, “The high mortality rate creates a sad business model for beekeepers.”

Donley continued, “It’s like sending the bees to war. Many don’t come back.” But some think there’s actually a bigger issue at play here, and this is all down to the way in which human need has transformed a delicate natural ecosystem.

Beekeeper Patrick Pynes has spoken out about what’s happening in his industry – and, more specifically, the role that almond harvests play in that process. He told The Guardian, “The bees in the almond groves are being exploited and disrespected. They are in severe decline because our human relationship to them has become so destructive.”

And the people who profit from the production of almonds have also had their say. Bob Curtis, a pollination consultant for the Almond Board of California, explained to The Guardian, “The bee mortality rate is too high and is unacceptable. It is only because of the hard work and creativity of beekeepers that [almond growers] have gotten the bees they need.”

So, what exactly is being done to turn the problem around? Well, certain initiatives have been rolled out to try and minimize the number of chemical pesticides used in almond farming. The Bee Better Certified program, for instance, wants groves to plant fragrant shrubbery. This, the organization argues, should hopefully deter unwanted insects from coming too close to the bees while simultaneously providing extra sustenance for hives.

Big companies are also doing their bit to turn the situation around. Häagen-Dazs was the first food brand to adopt the Bee Better trademark, and you may spot the logo when you’re next out shopping. Rather temptingly, the firm’s honey salted caramel almond ice cream flavor is among the products that showcase the symbol.

But apart from the somewhat delightful task of buying more Häagen-Dazs ice cream, you may be wondering what else you, as a consumer, can do to save the bees. For instance, do you need to find an almond milk alternative with which to drown your cereal?

In any case, there are plenty of other dairy-free alternatives – such as coconut milk. But while coconut milk may be tasty, delicious and nutritious, you should be looking for a fair-trade version. The popularity of the beverage adds to deforestation, for a start. And as the trees are typically farmed in developing countries, this often means that harvesters receive a pittance for their work.

So, what else is out there? Well, with rice being such a staple in our diets, you may think that milk made of the grain would be a better choice. But though this delicious carb may be cheap, it’s also not very kind to the planet. According to a 2018 University of Oxford study, rice seed requires a lot of water to grow, while microorganisms in paddy fields may give off greenhouse gases. Rice milk also doesn’t provide as much nourishment as other plant-based varieties.

Fortunately, experts have revealed the two foods that make the best replacements for almond milk: oats and soy. Soy offers nearly the same level of protein as normal cow’s milk, you see, and its production has little negative impact on the environment.

Oats are also produced in a sustainable way, as much of the land needed to grow the grain is already available. In addition, a vast quantity of oats are currently being harvested for animal feed, meaning some of these can easily be used to keep up with the growing demand for dairy-free milks.

So, now that we know both the pros and cons of drinking almond milk, what should fans of the nutty beverage do? Well, you can rest assured that despite any negative impact that farming is having on bees, buying the product is still better for the planet than purchasing regular milk. If, however, you’re keen to do your bit for Californian hives, then at least you now know that there are some great alternatives out there.