In recent years, an increasing number of women have eliminated dairy from their diets. This trend is fueled by concerns regarding bovine growth hormones, animal welfare, and digestive issues, along with a significantly better variety of milk and dairy alternatives available. Women are particularly vulnerable to osteoporosis and reduced bone density after menopause, necessitating higher calcium intake—1,000 mg per day for women under 50. However, they tend to consume less dairy than men. Public health advocates in Australia and the U.K. have raised alarms that the growing number of women avoiding dairy has reached “dangerous levels.” According to USDA data, overall milk consumption has halved since the late 1970s, accompanied by a dramatic drop in farmgate milk prices. Interestingly, total dairy consumption has actually risen, with per capita yogurt consumption climbing to nearly 15 pounds annually, up from just two pounds in 1975. Despite this growth, yogurt still does not significantly contribute to the total dairy servings consumed by Americans.
In response, the dairy industry is shifting its focus from liquid milk to promoting protein-enhanced and other functional products, highlighting the fresh and natural credentials of milk. Recent studies supporting the benefits of dairy consumption may bolster the industry’s efforts. However, as more women adopt dietary guidelines encouraging increased intake of plant-based foods, the dairy sector—and researchers studying early menopause—may need to work harder to persuade them of the importance of dairy, particularly calcium citrate, for women’s health. The role of natural factors in maintaining bone health is crucial, and it will be vital for the dairy industry to effectively communicate this to women who are increasingly wary of dairy products.