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Last week, Sprouts Farmers Market, the supermarket chain known for its wide selection of natural and organic foods, announced<\/a> that it will begin selling animal-free milk at its nearly 400 locations across the country. Animal-free milk\u2014as the name suggests\u2014doesn\u2019t come from cows. It\u2019s not made from almonds, oats, or soy, either. Instead, it comes from a database<\/a>.<\/p>\n Animal-free milk, also known as cell-cultured milk<\/a>, is a vegan milk alternative made through a process known as precision fermentation<\/a>. The process begins by 3D printing milk\u2019s DNA sequence onto yeast or fungi. The printed DNA is then fed plant-based nutrients until it produces a milk-like whey protein. That protein is separated, dried into powder, and used to make\u2014what we call\u2014animal-free milk.<\/p>\n While that process may sound dystopian, large-scale traditional milk is by no means better. As you likely know, dairy farming isn\u2019t exactly environmentally friendly\u2014the 13 biggest dairy companies produce the same amount of greenhouse gas<\/a> emissions as the entire United Kingdom. It\u2019s not the poster child of ethical farming, either. According to The New York Times<\/em><\/a>, the typical American dairy cow spends its entire life in a concrete-floored enclosure.<\/p>\n Animal-free milk intends to solve both the environmental and ethical shortcomings of traditional dairy. It\u2019s been reported that animal-free milk could generate 97 percent fewer emissions<\/a> than its traditional counterpart. Moreover, cows are never needed during animal-free milk production.<\/p>\n Unlike other alternatives, animal-free milk is designed to be exactly<\/em> like traditional milk. Because it has the same genetic makeup as what comes from a cow\u2019s udder, animal-free milk truly does replicate the flavor and texture of milk. Bored Cow<\/a>, the brand entering Sprouts Farmers Market, promotes this sentiment<\/a> on its website, describing its product as \u201ccow-free dairy that looks, feels, tastes, and acts just like the real thing.\u201d<\/p>\n For those with a dairy allergy, animal-free milk is not a silver bullet. Since it has the same genetic makeup of traditional milk, animal-free will cause the same adverse reaction<\/a> one would expect when drinking the real stuff. However, if you\u2019re simply lactose intolerant, you\u2019ll be happy to learn that it does not contain any lactose.<\/p>\n On its website, Bored Cow sells four 32-ounce cartons of its fermented product for $26<\/a>. I can buy the same volume (one gallon) of regular milk at my Whole Foods for $6.99<\/a>. Are the environmental and ethical improvements worth the additional $20? At this point, it\u2019s hard to say for sure\u2014we haven’t tasted it yet.<\/p>\n
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\nWhat are your thoughts on animal-free milk? Let us know in the comments below!<\/em>
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