In recent years, oat milk has become increasingly popular among many consumers worldwide and has become the preferred plant-based milk alternative. It is also the milk alternative most commonly offered in cafes and coffee shops.
But over the past year, social media and tabloids have often claimed that oat milk is nutritionally deficient and the milk alternative has been blamed for health problems like bloating and spikes in blood sugar. Here we take a closer look at some of these claims.
Does oat milk contain a lot of sugar?
Many brands of oat milk do not contain added sugar, but the way they are made breaks down the natural sugars in the oats more quickly blood circulation absorbed than when eating whole oats. However, cow’s milk often contains more sugar than oat milk. For example, contains Tesco whole milk 4.7 g of sugar per 100 ml, while Oatly Whole Contains 3.4g per 100ml.
Additionally, some oat milk brands have responded to consumer concerns by releasing oat milk that is made differently to reduce blood sugar spikes. This is how this came about, for example Oatly “No” Sugars” with 0 g sugar.
Is oat milk low in nutrients?
Most oat milk products are fortified with nutrients such as calcium, vitamin D and vitamin B12 and often contain the same levels of nutrients as cow’s milk. Oat milk, on the other hand, has a lower protein content than cow’s milk. For example, Oatly Whole contains 1g per 100ml compared to 3.5g for Tesco whole milk. However, nutritionist Ulrika Gunnerud PhD told the Evening Standardthat this is often not a problem.
“Although oat drinks tend to have a lower protein content than cow’s milk, for people who eat a balanced, varied diet and meet their energy needs, insufficient protein intake is usually not a problem, as we consume more protein than we need.” said Gunnerud.
For those wanting higher protein content, dairy isn’t the only option, soy and pea based milk alternatives are both also very high in protein.
Does oat milk contain additives?
Some oat milk products contain additives such as emulsifiers and vegetable oils, but nutritionist Dr. Reema Pillai told the Evening Standard that these are unlikely to be a problem if consumed in moderation.
For those concerned, there are some oat milk products, especially organic varieties, that are additive-free. Pillai also points out that, contrary to claims online, oat milk usually doesn’t cause bloating because its fiber content is relatively low.
A growing market
Despite the often false claims about oat milk, the market could reach 2028 reach 6.45 billion US dollars and continue to grow at a significant annual growth rate of up to 14.2%. Oatly, for example, already reported strong financial results for 2023 and companies that traditionally focus on animal products are increasingly interested in the sector. Danone is currently converting one Dairy yogurt factory Completed on oat milk.
While some plant-based categories are struggling due to the cost of living crisis difficulties to fight sales of milk alternatives remain strong. For the foreseeable future, it seems unlikely that demand for oat milk will decline.