Camel milk grows in popularity as functional ingredients surge in demand

Camel milk is becoming an increasingly popular ingredient amid growing demand for food products claiming to offer health benefits, according to a new report from market research firm Fact.MR.

Product sales of the milk are currently valued at $1.34 billion and are expected to increase at a compound annual growth rate of 4.1% through 2032.

The ingredient’s rising popularity is in part due to its digestive properties, as consumers increasingly follow lactose-intolerant diets, the report said.

A study presented at the Nutrition 2023 conference revealed that not all plant-based milk options meet the level of nutritional ingredients contained in dairy. Protein, for example, was on the list of nutritional qualities many of these products fell short of, along with Vitamin D and calcium. The milk product has essential ingredients and is high in antioxidants and nutrients like Vitamin A. The ingredient is also being increasingly used as a natural probiotic.

But the camel milk market may still face the same hurdle the plant-based segment has yet to overcome — price. The report found that camel milk is nearly 7-8 times more expensive than cow’s milk. However, experts believe that education and raising awareness to the right “high-end” consumers will allow the product to get into the hands of producers’ target demographic.

Food Dive