Almond milk

History

Almond milk was used as a substitute for animal milk in the Middle Ages in areas that followed Catholic fasting laws. Recipes for almond milk in the Middle East date back to at least the 13th century, as it was mentioned in Muhammad bin Hasan al-Baghdadi’s book Kitāb al-Ṭabīḫ (كتاب الطبيخ; The Book of Dishes), written in 1226. Some recipes for almond milk have used wine in the process. Historian Carolyn Walker Bynum notes that:

Commerce

In the United States, almond milk remained a niche health food item until the early 2000s, when its popularity began to increase. In 2011 alone, almond milk sales increased by 79%.{{cite web |access-date = 14 October 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141023045038/https://finance.yahoo.com/news/almond-white-milk-dairy-alternatives-174100672.html |archive-date = 23 October 2014 |url-status = dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130821194254/http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-08-21/soy-milk-fades-as-americans-opt-for-drinkable-almonds | url-status=dead | archive-date=21 August 2013 | access-date=14 October 2014}} As of 2014 it comprised 60 percent of plant-milk sales and 4.1 percent of total milk sales in the US.

Manufacturers and distributors of animal milk have advocated that plant-based milk not be labelled as "milk". They complain that consumers may be confused between the two, and that plant-based milks are not necessarily as nutritious in terms of vitamins and minerals. European Union regulations require "milk" to be used for animals only, except coconut milk. (See .)

Within the Italian regions of Sicily, Apulia, Calabria, and Campania, almond milk is a protected traditional agricultural product.

Brands include Almond Breeze, Elmhurst 1925, Mooala, Silk and Kirkland Signature.

Nutrition

If unfortified, almond milk has less vitamin D than fortified cow milk; in North America, cow milk must be fortified with vitamin D, but vitamins are added to plant milks on a voluntary basis. Vitamin E is released from the almonds and absorbed. The positive effects of the vitamin E include strengthening the cells. Because of its low protein content (0.4 g per 100 ml), almond milk is not a suitable replacement for breast milk, cow milk, or hydrolyzed formulas for children under two years of age.

Production

The general production method involves soaking and grinding almonds in an excess of water. A milky white liquid is obtained after filtering the almond pulp (flesh). Almond milk can also be made by adding water to almond butter. In commercial production, almond milk is homogenised with high pressure and pasteurised for greater stability and shelf life.

Almond milk can be stored in the fridge in an air-tight container (preferably a glass container) for about 4–5 days. However, certain factors, such as the temperature of the refrigerator, sterilization of the blender or storing jar, and surface cleanliness, can decide how many days you can keep it fresh. Storing homemade almond milk for more than a week may reduce its nutrition or even make it unhealthy.

In July 2015, a class action lawsuit was filed in New York City against two American manufacturers, Blue Diamond Growers and White Wave Foods, for false advertising regarding the small quantity of almonds (only 2%) contained in the final product.{{cite news |author=Steven Trader |title=Almond Milk Buyers Fight Stay Pending Other False Ad Deal

Sustainability

(kg CO2-Ceq per 200 g)

Almond production in California is concentrated mainly in the Central Valley, where the mild climate, rich soil, and abundant sunshine and water supply make for ideal growing conditions. Due to the persistent droughts in California in the early 21st century, it became more difficult to raise almonds in a sustainable manner.

Almond sustainability is challenged because of the high amount of water needed to grow almonds: a single glass of almond milk requires roughly 74 litre of water to produce.

Sustainability strategies implemented by the Almond Board of California and almond farmers include:

• tree and soil health, and other farming practices
• minimizing dust production during the harvest
• bee health
• irrigation guidelines for farmers
• food safety
• use of waste biomass as coproducts with a goal to achieve zero waste
• use of solar energy during processing
• job development
• support of scientific research to investigate the potential health benefits of consuming almonds
• international education about sustainability practices

References

References

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2. (14 April 2010). "Face Off: Almond Milk vs. Soy Milk". Houston Press.
3. "Mayo Clinic Q and A: Dairy milk, soy milk, almond milk — which is the healthiest choice for you?". Mayo Clinic.
4. (23 June 2019). "Almond milk market to be worth $13.3 billion by 2025". VegNews, Fresh Healthy Media.
5. (1995). "The Art of Cookery in the Middle Ages". Boydell Press.
6. Carolyn Walker Bynum. (1988). "Holy Feast and Holy Fast: The Religious Significance of Food to Medieval Women". University of California Press.
7. ""Milk," n.s. 1755".
8. Senarath Dharmasena, Oral Capps, Jr., Brooke Kosub, [http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/bitstream/196789/2/Dharmasena_Capps_Kosub_Almond_milk_SAEA_2015%20%28paper%29.pdf "Demand and Market Competitiveness of Almond Milk as a Dairy Alternative Beverage in the United States"] {{Webarchive. link. (24 April 2016 , Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, Food and Consumer Economics Research Center, (AFCERC), Texas A&M University, 2015.)
9. [https://www.preparedfoods.com/articles/125023-alternative-milk-labeling-leads-to-legal-lashings Alternative Milk Labeling Leads to Legal Lashings]
10. "Guida ai Prodotti Tipici del Territorio di Brindisi".
11. Geoff Koehler, [http://www.stmichaelshospital.com/media/detail.php?source=hospital_news/2014/20141020_hn "Children who drink non-cows’ milk are twice as likely to have low vitamin D"], St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, 20 October 2014.
12. (May 2008). "Release of Protein, Lipid, and Vitamin E from Almond Seeds during Digestion". Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.
13. (1 April 2019). "Nutritional data for unsweetened almond milk per 100 g (ml)". USDA FoodData Central.
14. (January 2012). "Severe malnutrition resulting from use of rice milk in food elimination diets for atopic dermatitis". Isr Med Assoc J.
15. (2014). "Development of a non-dairy probiotic fermented product based on almond milk and inulin". Food Science and Technology International.
16. Saima, N. (10 October 2022). "How to Make Almond Milk? Recipe and Nutrition".
17. Collen, Jess. (23 July 2015). "Is 2% Almond Milk More Confusing Than 2% Cows Milk? Blue Diamond And Silk Probably Say 'No.'". Forbes.
18. Feeney, Nolan. (29 July 2015). "False Advertising Lawsuit Claims This Almond Milk Brand Doesn't Have Enough Almonds".
19. (8 June 2015). "Class action lawsuit targets Blue Diamond, Silk almond milks". Washington Examiner.
20. Joe Van Acker. (21 October 2015). "Almond Milk Makers Duck Drinkers' Bid For Label Change". Law360.
21. (22 February 2019). "Which vegan milks are best for the planet?". BBC News: Science and Environment.
22. (8 April 2015). "Chart shows how some of your favorite foods could be making California's drought worse". Business Insider.
23. (16 April 2015). "How Almonds Became A Scapegoat For California's Drought". US National Public Radio.
24. (14 March 2018). "California Almonds Are Back After Four Years of Brutal Drought". Bloomberg.
25. (20 July 2022). "How sustainable are fake meats?". Knowable Magazine.
26. "Almonds {{!}} Agricultural Marketing Resource Center".
27. (2018). "Annual report: Growing Good – Almond Sustainability 2018". Almond Board of California.
28. (6 March 2018). "Almond industry forerunner of future farm practices, sustainability program internationally recognized". Western FarmPress.