Response to letter to the Editor from R. R. Patyar and S. Patyar on “Beyond the label: Investigating clinical ramifications of plant-based milk alternatives”

Abstract

Non-dairy milk is still considered as a relatively new food product category and has been a debatable topic until today, from its name, nutritional benefits, labelling, to whether the product sensory characteristics should be similar or different to cow's milk. In this letter, we firstly clarified the term “Protein Blend” to describe blends of whole plant milks and plant-dairy ingredients, rather than isolated proteins or protein-rich fractions. We also addressed the inaccurate categorisation of quinoa and buckwheat as cereals instead of pseudo-cereals from a scientific view. Secondly, we acknowledged the potential for food-drug interactions in plant-based milk alternative (PMBA) products, and stress the need for consumer education and systematic research to mitigate these risks and ensure safe pharmacotherapy. Lastly, we explored whether shelf-life of PMBA products is important in influencing consumer perceptions. In conclusion, PBMAs represent an emergent, sophisticated, and controversial topic within food science. This emerging field combines advanced technological developments with shifting consumer preferences, sparking debates across nutritional, environmental, and economic implications. The original article by Lee et al. (2024) was written through the lens of consumer perceptions, using terminologies that predominantly reflect consumer language, which may differ from more technical or scientific definitions. This notable discrepancy underlines the need for further research to bridge the gap between consumer understanding and scientific discourse. We hope this letter clarifies the discussed issues and encourages further research aimed at aligning scientific understanding with consumer perceptions, and fostering collaboration among food lawmakers, food scientists, and health professionals to ensure accurate labelling, and the safety and efficacy of pharmacotherapy involving PBMAs, particularly in light of potential food-drug interactions within this emerging product category.