Kitchn — Food — Sat, 29 Aug 2026 12:30:00 -0400
Summary
Dairy milk is regaining popularity after years of plant-based alternatives dominating the market, driven by consumer demand for fewer ingredients and more protein. The trend has been bolstered by policy changes under President Trump's second term, including the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, which requires schools to serve whole milk over low-fat and fat-free options. A2 milk—made from cows that produce only the A2 type of beta-casein protein and marketed as easier to digest—is expanding rapidly, with brands like Alexandre Family Farm and 365 by Whole Foods now offering versions. Meanwhile, non-dairy brands are increasingly trying to mimic real milk, such as MALK's new Whole MALK, a soy-coconut-cashew blend with 12 grams of protein per serving designed to replicate the taste and nutrition of whole milk.
When I was a kid, there were large, towering “Got Milk?” posters scattered all across my school classrooms. I can still see a teenage Taylor Swift posing with her guitar and a painted-on milk mustache. Milk was served in my cafeteria instead of water (really — the milk was free, and the bottled water was not).
By the time I graduated, though, milk had lost its moo-mentum. Non-dairy milks dominated the market, and the liquid (white) gold I grew up on was no longer the default choice. Almond-, oat-, soy-, coconut-, and even banana milk became cereal’s new sidekicks, while conventional dairy felt like the old-fashioned option.
As a grocery editor and frequent shopper, I’ve noticed milk is back — in the conversation and our fridges. The return feels part cultural, political, and nutritional. Consumers want fewer ingredients and more protein. One obvious solution? A glass of cold milk.
There are now more varieties crowding the dairy aisle, while plant-based brands scramble to release products that taste eerily close to milk. Let’s get into it.
Milk’s comeback isn’t happening in a vacuum. Under President Donald Trump’s second term, dairy was moved to the literal top of the food pyramid in 2025. Earlier this year, President Trump signed the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, requiring schools to serve whole milk over low-fat and fat-free alternatives. As a result, more adults and kids are being exposed and encouraged to drink milk.
The raw-milk movement has grown alongside the administration’s promise to “Make America Healthy Again,” although it’s not readily available in most supermarkets. While you might have seen it in the news and your social media feeds, it’s a niche trend that’s not affecting nationwide shoppers (yet).
Have you noticed A2 milk suddenly popping up everywhere? Look at the cartons in your supermarket closely, and you’ll notice they now come with a shiny new alphanumeric badge. But what exactly does that two-character code mean?
A2 milk comes from cows that naturally produce only the A2 type of beta-casein protein. It’s marketed as an easier-to-digest option for people sensitive to conventional milk. (That’s roughly 36% of all Americans, according to the National Institute of Health.)
The brand A2 Milk makes a few varieties of milk and infant formula, and now plenty of other brands and retailers like Alexandre Family Farm and 365 by Whole Foods are producing and selling A2 milk too. I tried Alexandre Family Farm’s milk next to a classic jug of whole milk, and was amazed by just how creamy and milky it tasted.
Ironically, as milk makes a comeback, non-dairy milk brands are increasingly trying to copy how the OG tastes, pours, and performs. I first noticed this when NotMilk popped out on shelves a few years ago (although it is now discontinued). More recently though, MALK released Whole MALK, made with a blend of organic soy, coconut, and cashews. It has 12 grams of plant protein per serving and is enriched with additional vitamins and minerals to mimic the taste and nutrition found in a tall glass of whole milk. What type of milk are you buying at the grocery store? Tell us about it in the comments below.
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Original article: https://www.thekitchn.com/grocery-spotter-august-2026-23840883?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Category%2FChannel%3A+main Source: Kitchn