Work

Linking nutritional quality and climate impact of dairy and plant-based milk and yogurt alternatives: Evidence from three countries

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Dairy products are central to global diets, but their production contributes substantially to greenhouse gas emissions. Plant-based dairy alternatives (PBDAs) are increasingly consumed, yet assessments of their nutritional quality and environmental impacts remain limited. This study compared nutritional quality and climate impacts of milk, yoghurt, plant-based milk (PBMAs), and yoghurt (PBYAs) alternatives from France, Sweden, and the U.S. Nutritional quality was evaluated using Nutrient Density Score (NDS) and a modified Dietary Shift Index (DSI). Using a nutritional life cycle assessment approach, carbon footprints were expressed per 100 g, 100 kcal, and unit of nutritional quality. Nutritional quality varied substantially across countries and was closely associated with fortification practices: fortification prevalence was highest in Sweden (76%) and lowest in France (16%). In France, milk outperformed unsweetened PBMAs (p=0.0042, DSI), and sweetened yoghurt exceeded sweetened PBYAs (p=0.0483, NDS; p<0.001, DSI). Sweetened PBMAs had the lowest carbon footprint per nutritional unit (0.004–0.006 kg CO 2 -eq/DSI or NDS), while sweetened yoghurt was highest (0.020–0.037 kg CO 2 -eq). Using NDS and DSI as functional units increased the relative carbon footprint of dairy and PBDAs, aligning them to nutrient-dense animal foods, such as salmon and game, though DSI ranked milk and PBDAs more favourably than NDS. These results suggest that functional units based on nutritional quality, particularly accounting for nutrients at risk in dietary transitions, provide a meaningful framework to evaluate sustainability. The study highlights the role of fortification and the need for further research on its nutritional and climate impacts in plant-based food alternatives.

Source: Current Research in Food Science

DOI: 10.1016/j.crfs.2026.101598

Authors: Marta Bianchi, Viktor Lundmark, Sandra Barman, Elinor Hallström, Susanne Bryngelsson

Institution: RISE Research Institutes of Sweden

Language: English

Topic: Agriculture Sustainability and Environmental Impact

Subfield: Ecology

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Climate action, Zero hunger, Responsible consumption and production, Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,170