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Milk, dairy products and plant-based alternatives

Last updated on 8-8-2025 by Laïla Boulbayem

Why do we study dietary patterns of the population?

  • What we eat and drink has a direct impact on our health and well-being. By studying dietary patterns in the population (What foods are eaten? At what frequency? By whom?), we can identify areas for improvement and make informed decisions to promote better diets. This knowledge helps address the risk of diet-related diseases and supports the development of healthy, sustainable food systems.

  • The current page is focused on general consumption of milk, dairy products and plant-based alternatives. More information on the comparison of the habitual intake of milk and dairy products with dietary guidelines can be found here.

 

How did we study the consumption of milk, dairy products and plant-based alternatives?

  • The consumption of milk, dairy products and plant-based alternatives was assessed, overall and for different population groups, using data from two non-consecutive 24-hour dietary recalls. Trained interviewers recorded twice, on two non-consecutive days, all the foods and drinks that participants had consumed on the previous day using a specialised computer program (GloboDiet®).
  • The mean consumption (in grams/day) of milk, dairy products and plant-based alternatives was calculated using the average consumption, overall and by subcategories of products, over the two recall days of each participant. Since mean distributions are skewed, comparison between population subgroups should be interpreted with caution.
  • The detailed methodology can be found here.

 

What is included in the group of “milk, dairy products and plant-based alternatives”?

  • This group includes the following subcategories:

    • Milk and milk drinks;

    • Fermented milk, fermented milk drinks, yoghurt drinks;

    • Yoghurt;

    • Cottage cheese, petit Suisse;

    • Cheese (including cheese spread);

    • Milk-based puddings and creamy desserts;

    • Cream;

    • Ice cream;

    • Plant-based drinks and products.

KEY RESULTS

The mean consumption of milk, dairy products and plant-based alternatives in the population aged 3 years and older is 170 g per day
The mean consumption of milk, dairy products and plant-based alternatives is 183 g per day in men and 158 g per day in women
Children consume on average 139 g per day of milk and milk-based drinks, which is higher than for older age groups
The mean consumption of milk, dairy products and plant-based substitutes is 185 g/day in Flanders and 151 g/day in Wallonia
The mean consumption of plant-based alternatives is the highest among individuals with a high education level (17 g per day) and among individuals living in Flanders (15 g per day)

By sex

Mean consumption of milk, dairy products and plant-based alternatives (g/day) in the population aged 3 years and older, by sex, Belgium: 2022-2023

  • Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status. 
  • Mean consumption refers to the population mean consumption, calculated from the individual mean consumption over two non-consecutive 24-hour dietary recalls.
  • The mean consumption of milk, dairy products and plant-based alternatives in the population aged 3 years and older is 170 g/day, of which 70 g/day is milk and milk-based drinks, 31 g/day is yoghurt, 29 g/day is cheese, 12 g/day are plant-based alternatives and 10 g/day are milk-based desserts (e.g. puddings, cream desserts). Fermented milk and milk drinks, cottage cheese, cream and ice cream make a smaller contribution to the consumption of the total consumption of milk, dairy products and plant-based alternatives.
  • Men consume 183 g/day of milk, dairy products and plant-based alternatives, including 80 g/day of milk and milk-based drinks, 31 g/day of yoghurt, 29 g/day of cheese, 11 g/day of milk-based desserts and 10 g/day of plant-based alternatives.
  • Women consume 158 g/day of milk, dairy products and plant-based alternatives, including 60 g/day of milk and milk-based drinks, 31 g/day of yoghurt, 28 g/day of cheese, 9 g/day of milk-based desserts and 13 g/day of plant-based alternatives.

By age

Mean consumption of milk, dairy products and plant-based alternatives (g/day) in the population aged 3 years and older, by age, Belgium: 2022-2023

  • Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
  • Mean consumption refers to population mean consumption, calculated from the individual consumption over two non-consecutive 24-hour dietary recalls.
  • Older adults (65 years and above) do not include those residing in care facilities, hospitalised individuals, or those who would have required significant assistance during interviews (e.g., people with cognitive impairments).
  • The mean consumption of milk, dairy products and plant-based alternatives is 226 g/day in children aged 3-9 years and decreases in the older age groups: 169 g/day for adolescents aged 10-17 years, 167 g/day for adults aged 18-39 years, 160 g/day for adults aged 40-64 years and 164 g/day for older adults aged 65 years and over.
  • The higher mean consumption of milk, dairy products and plant-based alternatives in children is due to a higher mean consumption of milk and milk-based drinks in this age group: 139 g/day for children versus 96 g/day for adolescents, 66 g/ day for adults aged 18-39 years, 54 g/day for adults aged 40-64 years and 50 g/day for older adults.
  • In contrast, adults aged 40-64 years (39 g/day) and 65 years and above (35 g/day) have a higher mean consumption of yoghurt, compared to children (21 g/day) and adolescents (18 g/day). The consumption of cheese is also higher in adults aged 18-39 years (30 g/day), 40-64 years (33 g/day) and 65 years and above (30 g/day) than in children (18 g/day) and adolescents (22 g/day).

By educational level

Mean consumption of milk, dairy products and plant-based alternatives (g/day) in the population aged 3 years and older, by educational level, Belgium: 2022-2023

  • Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status. 
  • Mean consumption refers to population mean consumption, calculated from the individual consumption over two non-consecutive 24-hour dietary recalls.
  • The educational level is calculated at the household level by considering the highest diploma obtained by: (i) the respondents or their partner for adults (aged 18 years and above), or (ii) the father and mother (or carer, if applicable) for children and adolescents (aged 3 to 17 years). However, for simplicity, we refer to the educational level of individuals rather than the educational level of their households.
  • The mean consumption of milk, dairy products and plant-based alternatives is 158 g/day among individuals with a low level of education, 172 g/day among individuals with a medium level of education and 191 g/day among individuals with a high level of education.
  • The mean consumption of milk and milk-based drinks, yoghurt, and plant-based substitutes seems higher among individuals with a high education level (81 g/day, 37 g/day and 17 g/day, respectively) than among those with a low education level (64 g/day, 26 g/day and 8 g/day, respectively).

By region

Mean consumption of milk, dairy products and plant-based alternatives (g/day) in the population aged 3 years and older, by region, Belgium: 2022-2023

  • Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
  • Mean consumption refers to the population mean consumption, calculated from the individual mean consumption over two non-consecutive 24-hour dietary recalls.
  • Due to an insufficient number of participants, Brussels is excluded from the regional comparison but is included in the national data for Belgium.
  • The mean consumption of milk, dairy products and plant-based substitutes is 185 g/day in Flanders and 151 g/day in Wallonia.
  • The mean consumption of yoghurt, plant-based substitutes and fermented milk seems higher in Flanders (36 g/day, 15 g/day and 6 g/day, respectively) than in Wallonia (22 g/day, 5 g/day and 3 g/day, respectively).

Please cite this page as: Sciensano. Food Consumption: Milk, dairy products and plant-based alternatives, Food Consumption Survey 2022-2023, June 2025, Brussels, Belgium, https://www.sciensano.be/en/results-national-food-consumption-survey-2022-2023/food-consumption/milk-dairy-products-and-plant-based-alternatives

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