Whey Protein Costs Nearly Twice Its 2021 Price

Whey protein powder now costs roughly double its 2021 price, raising expenses for people who use it to help maintain muscle. Demand has spread beyond strength-training circles. More Americans taking GLP-1 medications are using easily digested protein as they eat less and try to limit muscle loss during weight reduction.

Whey begins as a leftover liquid from cheesemaking, so producers cannot quickly increase its supply on their own. Expanding output requires additional cheese plants and costly processing equipment. Dairy farmers have also favored more profitable beef cattle in some cases, further limiting milk supplies. Meanwhile, new high-protein food launches increased fourfold between 2013 and 2024. Large food companies often secure stable costs through lengthy contracts, while supplement makers commonly purchase whey at fluctuating market prices and transfer increases to shoppers.

Concentrate prices have climbed faster than isolate prices as brands use more concentrate in their formulas. Isolate receives additional processing that removes most lactose and fat, making it more expensive. Nutrition lecturer Richie Kirwan reserves isolate recommendations for people who have trouble tolerating the lactose in concentrate. For others, he sees little reason to pay its premium.