Whey protein, which is produced from milk during cheese production, has become significantly more expensive.
According to market data from DCA Market Intelligence cited by The Guardian, the price of whey powder in Northwestern Europe has risen by more than 50 percent since the beginning of the year.
More concentrated protein products have also become substantially more expensive.
Data from analytics firm Vesper, cited by The Guardian, show that the price of whey protein containing 80 percent protein has increased sharply since 2023.
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Pressure on the market
Demand is now so strong that several suppliers have already sold their production capacity for the rest of 2026.
This is according to a market report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, as reported by The Guardian.
At the same time, one producer is expected to stop manufacturing a particular type of whey protein after the summer. This could make the product even harder to obtain.
According to Vesper, the industry is attempting to address the challenge by opening new factories and, in some cases, blending whey protein with other dairy proteins.
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Why the demand is so high
Many food manufacturers now add extra protein to products such as snacks and other everyday foods. This is driven by a growing focus on diet and nutrition.
However, an important reason behind the rising demand lies elsewhere.
According to The Guardian, the trend is linked to the increasing use of GLP-1 weight-loss medications, including Mounjaro and Wegovy.
People using these medications are often advised to consume more protein in order to maintain muscle mass while losing weight.
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This has contributed to higher demand for whey protein and raised concerns about whether production can keep pace.
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