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# GRAPHIC: Americans are drinking less cow milk and more plant-based alternatives
- URL: https://www.investigatemidwest.org/graphic-americans-are-drinking-less-cow-milk-and-more-plant-based-alternatives/
- Published: 2021-05-12T17:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-23T18:10:45.000Z
- Description: In the past half century, people started drinking less cow milk, and recently more and more people have joined in the trend, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
- Author: Ignacio Calderon, USA TODAY Network Agriculture Data Fellow, Investigate Midwest
- Tags: Data Harvest, TP::Explainer, milk, plant-based, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-06-18 04:56

In the past half century, people started drinking less cow milk, and recently more and more people have joined in the trend, according to the U.S. [Department of Agriculture](https://www.ers.usda.gov/amber-waves/2020/december/plant-based-products-replacing-cow-s-milk-but-the-impact-is-small/?ref=investigatemidwest.org).

Cow milk consumption is almost 10 times larger than plant-based alternatives, but data shows a decrease in its popularity.

From 2013 to 2017, the latest year data is available, the number of gallons of cow milk consumed in a household per week decreased by 12.2%, while the number of gallons for plant based alternatives such as almond and soy milk, increased by 35.7%.

Scientists have suggested that diets with plant-based foods can provide an opportunity to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while improving human health, according to a [report](https://www.ipcc.ch/srccl/chapter/summary-for-policymakers/?ref=investigatemidwest.org) by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

According to the [IPCC](https://www.ipcc.ch/srccl/chapter/chapter-5/5-5-mitigation-options-challenges-and-opportunities/5-5-2-demand-side-mitigation-options/5-5-2-1-mitigation-potential-of-different-diets/figure-5-12/?ref=investigatemidwest.org), the lower the consumption of animal-based foods, the more potential to reduce emissions.