Consumer Perception About the Nutritional Plant-Based Alternative to Milk Marketed in Brazil

Abstract

Milk has important nutritional value in human nutrition. However, the consumer market for plant-based beverages as a substitute for milk consumption has expanded in recent years. It is important to note that plant-based beverages do not have the same bioavailability of nutrients as milk, being deficient in calcium and vitamin D. This substitution may represent a potential reduction in the consumption of important nutrients, especially for children. Assessing the consumer's profile and understanding of the nutritional value of vegetable drinks is essential to support awareness-raising actions on the advantages and disadvantages of this exchange. The research was conducted through the application of an online questionnaire, in which 400 responses were obtained. The most consumed types of vegetable-based drinks were soy and coconut, with approximately 26% of the participants consuming them weekly. The reasons for consumption were: healthy drink (59.4%), flavor (29%), vegetarian and vegan (19.4%), lactose intolerance (12.3%), low fat content (8.4%). %) and others (6.2%). Regarding knowledge about vegetable drinks, most consumers considered this type of drink as a good source of protein and a natural source of calcium. They also stated that milk is better than plant-based drinks for strengthening bones, which indicates that they have contradictory information. Participants demonstrated that they were not sufficiently informed about the nutritional composition of these beverages, regardless of whether they were consumers or not.