Overview
- A modelling study published Nov. 4 in The Lancet Planetary Health used UK diet survey data and the nutrient profiles of more than 300 plant-based dairy products to estimate changes in iodine, calcium, riboflavin (B2) and vitamin B12 when dairy is partially or fully replaced.
- The market review found uneven fortification: about 12% of plant-based products had added iodine, 61% had added calcium, 46% had vitamin B12 and 19% had riboflavin, so many items would not match the micronutrient supply of cow’s milk without policy change.
- The models show the biggest impacts on teenage girls and women of reproductive age—for example replacing 20–35% of dairy raised inadequate iodine intake for girls 14–18 from 54% to 65% and for women 19–49 from 32% to 42%, with full replacement pushing some groups to very high inadequacy rates.
- Study authors recommend government-led mandatory fortification of plant-based dairy alternatives and proposals such as iodine-fortified bread, while other nutrition experts caution that intake-based models do not always equal measured iodine status from urinary tests and urge more direct monitoring.
- The findings matter for policy because the UK lacks universal salt iodisation, dairy currently supplies a large share of dietary iodine (partly from cattle supplements), and switching diets for sustainability will need clear nutrition safeguards to avoid unintended harms.