Why Is Oat Milk So Expensive? And Is It Really That Healthy?!
Oat milk is now an essential part of the supermarket selection, but why do you pay so much for it? Keuringsdienst van waarde investigated the price difference between this popular plant-based milk and regular cow’s milk. And is oat milk actually as healthy as you think?
The price difference between oat milk and cow’s milk
It seems like a no-brainer: you pay less for cow’s milk than for oat milk, but why is that actually the case? Oats and water, the ingredients in oat milk, are not expensive ingredients, so why is that litre of oat milk so much more expensive?
Labor-intensive production process
Keuringsdienst van waarde asked Boris de Lorm, an expert in oat milk production, about it. According to him, the high price is due to the labor-intensive production process. Making oat milk requires more than simply mixing oats and water. First, the oats are ground, then the starch has to be converted into sugars, followed by filtering and pasteurizing the liquid. Vitamin B12, vitamin D and calcium are also added. All these steps cost time, energy and money.
No subsidies
But that is not all. The lack of subsidies for oat milk producers also plays a role. Dairy farmers receive millions in subsidies every year, keeping the price of cow’s milk artificially low. This does not apply to oat milk, which drives up the price.
The tax on oat milk
Another reason for the higher price of oat milk is taxation. While cow’s milk is tax-free, oat milk (and other plant-based milk) is taxed at 26 cents per litre. This is because plant-based milk varieties are relatively new to the tax system and are therefore classified as soft drinks subject to ‘soft drink tax’ (?!).
Price per litre: a huge difference
This not only makes oat milk more expensive for producers, but the higher price is, of course, passed on to consumers. A litre of cow’s milk (AH Volle melk) costs € 1,39 per litre. For the same amount of oat milk (Oatly! Oat barista edition), you pay € 2,89 per litre.
Okay, so you pay a substantial amount for your oat cappuccino. Maybe because you are lactose intolerant. Maybe because you think it is better for the climate. Maybe because you think it is healthier than regular milk. But is that really the case?
Is oat milk actually that healthy?
Although oat milk is often promoted as the healthy alternative to cow’s milk, that is not always the case. Certainly not when you look at its effects on your blood sugar levels. Oat milk is bad for you, colleague Danielle from Amayzine reported. Oats are rich in starch, and when this is converted into a liquid form, as with oat milk, it can cause your blood sugar levels to rise quickly.
Added sugars, oils and flavorings
Biochemist and “Glucose Goddess” Jessie Inchauspé, who wears a glucose monitor for years at a time, warns against using oat milk in your latte. She discovered that oat milk causes even more glucose spikes than a slice of bread with jam! Many oat milk varieties also contain maltose and oils (such as rapeseed oil, sunflower oil and canola oil), which do not benefit your health.
In short: the costs are high, the production process is complicated, and the health benefits are sometimes not as great as they seem. If you are looking for a healthier option, experts say that full-fat cow’s milk may actually be a more stable choice for your blood sugar levels.
The most delicious in your cappuccino?
Creamy milk from the Jersey cow! At least, I swear by it. Not cheap—you pay € 2,92 per litre for full-fat Jersey milk—but incredibly delicious and a lot healthier.
