economy
The Protein Shortage Is Coming
In retrospect, maybe the protein Pop-Tarts were a bit much. Americans, broadly speaking, are in a state of protein mania. We are eating it at breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, and just about anytime in between. We like it in chips, candy, soda, water. We like protein so much, in fact, that we’ve been eating it all up.
TL;DR
- Demand for protein in foods and supplements has surged across America.
- Wholesale prices for food-grade whey powder have increased by over 50% since January, reaching record levels.
- Retail prices for whey protein powder have also climbed significantly.
- The complex processing required for protein powder, especially isolates, limits the industry's ability to scale quickly.
- The North American dairy industry is investing billions in processing capacity to address the shortage.
- Economists predict the current shortage may be temporary as the industry catches up to demand.