Oats-based product joins list of milk alternatives

October 26, 2021

Sean Hogan takes a look at the growing trend.

Nearly 15 per cent of Kiwis now always or mostly eat plant-based meals, according to a recent Colmar Brunton survey.

Among the newcomers to the expanding market, oats are being processed as a popular alternative for milk.

Some say milk alternatives are healthier and more sustainable, but experts say consumers should read the fine print.

Boring Oat Milk founder Morgan Maw says oat milk uses 13 times less water than dairy and produces six times less fertiliser.

The company is is New Zealand’s first and only commercial oat milk operation, their oats are grown, processed and packaged in Hawke’s Bay.

People are becoming increasingly keen for sustainable alternatives, with a Colmar Brunton survey last year showing almost 50 per cent of Kiwis have deliberately switched to more sustainable brands.

However, with new products on the market all the time, there’s a warning not to get sucked into greenwashing.

Founder of Sustainable Business Network Rachel Brown says customers should pick products that align with their ethics.

“If you are genuinely curious about these things, it makes sense to read what is on these products to make sure you know about them because otherwise you are going to be making some really poor choices,” says Brown.

Otago University Food Science Professor Indra Oey says the consumer needs to think carefully when they see the ingredients.

“Whether they use the whole plant as the resource or they just isolated one component because once you add one component like the protein or the fibre you will miss the overall content of the value from that crop.”

Boring Oat Milk has high hopes, aiming to be as prominent as dairy.

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