Cow's milk is not naturally rich in iodine; it is fortified at the cow through additives in cattle feed. This fortification is necessary to provide iodine and vitamin B12, which are not naturally present in milk. The study suggests that switching from dairy to plant-based alternatives could lead to deficiencies in iodine and other micronutrients unless the plant-based products are fortified.
The study's findings are based on the assumption that all plant-based products are equally consumed, which is not the case. Many popular brands of plant-based products are fortified with iodine, which means the study may overestimate the deficiency risk. The authors of the study advocate for fortification of plant-based products as a solution to this potential issue.
Dale Vince of the Green Britain Foundation argues that moving away from dairy is beneficial for both health and the environment. He suggests that if fortification is necessary, it should be applied to plant-based products rather than encouraging a return to dairy consumption. Vince believes that cow's milk should be reserved for baby cows.
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