5 publishers · first seen Wed, 04 Nov 2026 23:30 UTC · updated Thu, 05 Nov 2026 13:49 UTC
A study suggests that replacing dairy products with plant-based alternatives, such as oat or almond milks, could lead to deficiencies in essential vitamins and minerals, particularly iodine. Researchers from the University of Surrey and Queen's University Belfast found that even partial replacements could result in inadequate intake of iodine, calcium, riboflavin, and vitamin B12, with children, teenagers, and women being the most affected. The study, which included data from over 3,500 people, found that only a small percentage of plant-based products were fortified with these essential nutrients. For instance, only 12% of plant-based items contained added iodine, while 61% had added calcium, 46% had vitamin B12, and 19% had riboflavin. The researchers emphasized the importance of fortification policies to mitigate these deficiencies, especially in the UK where there is no mandatory iodine fortification policy.
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