Why plant-based milk remains niche despite cow milk shortages
Despite cow milk shortages in Kenya, plant-based milk alternatives remain a niche market due to significantly higher retail prices. Nutritionists note that while plant-based options are available, they often lack the nutrient density of dairy unless fortified.
Why it matters
This highlights the economic barriers to adopting sustainable food alternatives in developing markets.
With the current supply constraints in the country, milk has become harder to find on some retail shelves. At Jaza supermarket, Willy Kimani, the founder and director, says reduced supplies have been noticeable for about a month and a half now.
“They started by stopping the promotions for milk,” he says. “That’s when we knew that there was an issue.”
The shortage brings into sharper focus the question of what alternatives exist for Kenyan consumers.
According to Irene Jahenda, a nutritionist at Placid Nutrition Centre, options include goat milk, camel milk, and plant-based alternatives such as almond, soy, and oat milk.
“Cow’s milk has been popular for a very long time, first, because of its palatability,” she says. “It is preferred to goat or camel milk because of taste preferences.”
Its popularity is also due to its nutrient composition.
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