Whey: why is the price of protein powder rising?

Whey has been the king of proteins in gyms for years, but its price is now shooting up. Some blame the supplement makers, others see a hidden cartel. The real reason lies elsewhere entirely – and it’s worth knowing before you pay double for your next tub of protein powder.

Why did whey become so important in the first place?

Whey is praised so lavishly among gym-goers that things have long since gone to extremes. To be fair, it really is an exceptionally good protein source: a biological value (BV) of 100 or even more, plenty of glutamine and branched-chain amino acids (BCAA). Fast digestion, good absorption and a pleasant taste make it a logical choice for a post-workout shake.

But side by side, the gap isn’t always as big as the label suggests. Casein has a BV of 99, and so does rice protein. The so-called whey fractions that marketing emphasizes so heavily are almost entirely absent from the whey protein produced during cheesemaking – they are destroyed during processing. The exception is low-temperature pasteurized varieties, in which the bioactive components are preserved.

Lactose is worth mentioning among the downsides. Regular whey protein concentrate (WPC) contains over 5% lactose, which for a lactose-sensitive person means stomach trouble. Whey protein isolate (WPI) is more heavily processed, with lactose under 0.1% – essentially lactose-free – but it is also considerably more expensive.

A cheese factory’s leftover turned into a cash machine

Whey protein concentrate is a by-product of cheese production. Decades ago there was so much of it that US authorities called on the industry to find a way to put the leftover to use. Getting rid of it used to cost money. Today the same whey is one of the dairy industry’s most profitable lines.

Before whey, the sports supplement scene was dominated by meat protein, egg white, pea, wheat and soy protein powders, milk caseinates and collagen hydrolysate. They are all still around in their own way, and they work. Of these, the current price rise affects only caseinates – the rest are holding steady.

Why is the price of whey really rising?

Pricier sports nutrition is a minor concern compared with the alarm of aid organizations. Milk powder is a central aid product for them, and if it runs out, millions of hungry people are directly in the line of fire.

The price rise is hitting the whole world at once. In Germany the price of milk has gone up by 50%, and the government is investigating the causes. Finnish dairy producers have forecast a more modest rise of 10–20%. There are several causes at the same time:

• The EU has cut casein production aid in recent years.
• The price of cheese is low, so dairies prefer to produce milk powder.
• China, India and Russia are buying dairy products on the world market at an unprecedented pace.
• Whey is increasingly used as a raw material in ordinary foods too.
• The world market price of lactose has more than quadrupled in a year.
• New Zealand, a major producer, has hit its production ceiling. Australia is suffering from poor weather.

How much more expensive will whey get?

The market price of whey protein concentrate has risen more than four times over five years, and the steepest rise has come this year. This year alone WPC has become nearly 60% more expensive, and the curve is still pointing up. Raw material sellers sign only short-term supply contracts and threaten to quit the business.

The price of casein has risen even more over the same period – nearly 70%. Whey producers say, half-jokingly, that they could sell their entire output to a single country, China. Stocks from previous years have dwindled to a couple of weeks’ worth.

What does this actually mean for a bodybuilder?

Honestly – nothing dramatic. Whey protein is just one protein source among others. Muscles still grow by the same rules: more energy comes in than goes out, and training provides enough stimulus. Protein is important, but it’s not the only key.

By the way, one common mistake is drinking a pure protein drink without carbohydrates. Part of that protein is simply converted into a carbohydrate source in the body – essentially wasted. After training the body needs carbohydrates to refill its glycogen stores, so a recovery drink with carbohydrates is simply a more sensible decision than expensive pure whey protein concentrate for the same purpose.

Suppliers are the ones who suffer most under the price pressure. The price-cartel accusations are unfounded – the price rise in sports supplements is not the same for everyone. Products containing pure whey rise the most, while those with more carbohydrates and other protein sources rise less. Some importers have existing purchase contracts that cap price increases, so the same product can still be found at very different prices for quite a while yet.

FAQ on rising whey prices

Should you stock up on whey in bulk right now?

Some gym-goers have already done it, and importers’ stocks are running dry fast. But the risks are real: whey doesn’t keep forever, and both taste and solubility suffer. It makes more sense to buy your usual amount and, if needed, top up with other protein sources.

Can whey be replaced with something else?

Yes. Egg white, pea protein, soy protein and even rice protein have decent BV scores. They aren’t absorbed as quickly as whey protein, but added to your daily intake they work well.

Is there an end in sight to the price increases?

Not at the moment. As long as demand from China, India and Russia holds and New Zealand’s production ceiling doesn’t budge, the market will keep pushing prices up. Time will tell whether governments step in over rising dairy prices.

Translated from Body magazine; Author: Timo Kosonen

Author: Greta

Source: WHO – healthy eating.

Come and train! ArtGym