Mid-month, The New York Times ran a lengthy feature on whey protein powders, noting that consumer demand for high-protein products has turned this former by-product into a boom product for cheesemakers across the nation. Formerly the darling of primarily weightlifters, whey products are now embraced by weight losers: The recent FDA approval of anti-obesity drugs has boosted interest in high-protein foods to guard against muscle loss, and whey powders are a convenient source.
Dairy also made the news July 17 when ABC News and other national outlets reported that Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., intended to give dairy products higher billing in federal dietary guidelines. These updates are slated to go into effect this year. Earlier that week, Kennedy noted in a press conference, “There’s a tremendous amount of emerging science that talks about the need for more protein in our diet and more fat in our diet. And there’s no industry that does this better than (the dairy) industry.”
The continuing beef-on-dairy trend and its relationship with the beef market was in the news in late July, as a CBS News segment explored the forces influencing the historically high prices throughout the nation. Low cattle numbers, higher overhead feeding costs, and the threat of a New World screwworm infestation have contributed to high prices and what the USDA has declared the lowest national herd total since 1951.
Whey protein powder isn’t the only dairy product flying off the shelves; thanks to a TikTok-fueled trend, cottage cheese has gone from a dated diet dish to an influencer-elevated ingredient. Multiple news outlets in July reported that producers are working hard to keep up with the demand, which appears to be driven by both cottage cheese’s protein content and its versatility in recipes.
Dairy’s spotlight didn’t dim at the month’s end: On July 28, Dairy Farmers of America President and Chief Executive Officer, Dennis Rodenbaugh, wrote an open letter to President Donald Trump, published as a full page in The Wall Street Journal. Rodenbaugh called for the President to “drive the adoption of a pragmatic workforce solution,” elaborating that such a fix would offer “visibility and accountability, and one that strengthens our economy, communities, and national food security.”
