State of play: Suppliers are struggling to keep up with demand, forcing them to pause production or use alternative ingredients, Bloomberg reports.
The surge in demand is coming from products like Starbucks cold foams and Mars Protein Eggo waffles, plus protein bars, shakes and snacks.
⚙️ How it works: "Whey protein is a byproduct of cheese making, so processors can't simply ramp up production of the protein on its own," Bloomberg notes. "During the cheese-making process, milk is separated into curds and the protein-rich liquid whey is then pasteurized and dried to turn it into protein powders."
What to watch for: Some food companies are embracing alternatives like milk protein concentrate, but whey protein devourers say it's not the same.
