Ajay Suresh
Whey protein isolate costs have surged five times since 2023, now standing at €28,000 per tonne, greatly exceeding the increases in cheese and butter prices. Consequently, this ingredient has evolved from a byproduct of cheese production into a prized commodity.
"A brand new segment of consumers has appeared, seeking protein supplements to preserve muscle mass while using weight-loss drugs," stated Guus Aerts, director of ingredients at the Dutch firm FrieslandCampina.
Three decades ago, whey protein was mainly utilized in livestock feed or as a fertilizer for farming fields. Milk producers are currently enhancing its quality via filtration, creating whey protein isolate—an important component for use in sports supplements, alongside items like yogurt, bread, and soft drinks.
"This alters the financial landscape of the dairy sector," observes Jose Saiz, an analyst at the pricing agency Expana. "Previously, it was a product without value. At present, cheese may be an outcome of whey manufacturing."
Food companies are introducing approximately 100 new protein products globally each year. "This demand just cannot be fulfilled," thinks Louis Kübel, head of ingredients at Denmark's Arla. He mentioned that establishing new production facilities could require two years.
John Lancaster, an analyst at StoneX, stated, 'For a long time, it's been a joke that cheese factories are built to extract protein rather than to make cheese. At present prices, this concept "truly makes sense," he remarked.
source: ft.com
"A brand new segment of consumers has appeared, seeking protein supplements to preserve muscle mass while using weight-loss drugs," stated Guus Aerts, director of ingredients at the Dutch firm FrieslandCampina.
Three decades ago, whey protein was mainly utilized in livestock feed or as a fertilizer for farming fields. Milk producers are currently enhancing its quality via filtration, creating whey protein isolate—an important component for use in sports supplements, alongside items like yogurt, bread, and soft drinks.
"This alters the financial landscape of the dairy sector," observes Jose Saiz, an analyst at the pricing agency Expana. "Previously, it was a product without value. At present, cheese may be an outcome of whey manufacturing."
Food companies are introducing approximately 100 new protein products globally each year. "This demand just cannot be fulfilled," thinks Louis Kübel, head of ingredients at Denmark's Arla. He mentioned that establishing new production facilities could require two years.
John Lancaster, an analyst at StoneX, stated, 'For a long time, it's been a joke that cheese factories are built to extract protein rather than to make cheese. At present prices, this concept "truly makes sense," he remarked.
source: ft.com