Why don't vegans drink milk?
FOOD
Short answer
Dairy cows are repeatedly impregnated and separated from their calves, and most humans lose the ability to digest lactose after infancy.
FOOD
The detail
A dairy cow only produces milk after giving birth. To keep milk flowing, cows are artificially inseminated roughly every year and their calves are removed within 24 hours — male calves typically go to veal, females replace their mothers in the herd. Cows are slaughtered at 4–6 years of age although their natural lifespan is ~20.
About 68% of the world's adults are lactose-intolerant. Fortified soy, oat, pea and almond milks match or exceed dairy's calcium and protein without the ethical footprint.
A practical first step is transitioning to fortified soy or pea milk, which provide protein levels comparable to cow's milk. A 2018 study published in Science found that the environmental footprint of dairy is roughly three times higher than plant-based alternatives in terms of greenhouse gas emissions. You can still enjoy creamy textures by using soaked cashews or coconut cream in recipes that traditionally call for heavy dairy.
Source: NIH 2010; USDA ERS 2023
RELATED
More questions like this
- Do vegans eat eggs?
No. Eggs are an animal product, and even backyard hens come from an industry that kills male chicks and spent hens.
- Is honey vegan?
No. Honey is made by bees for bees, and its commercial production involves practices that harm colonies, so most vegans avoid it.
- How do vegans get calcium without milk?
Fortified plant milks (300 mg/cup), calcium-set tofu (350 mg/100 g), low-oxalate greens like kale and bok choy, tahini, almonds, and fortified cereals.
Newsletter
One short letter. Once a month.
A handful of recipes, a story worth your time, and one thing you can do this week. Nothing else.
We never share your email. Unsubscribe in one click.