According to Statistics Canada, milk sales fell by more than 3 per cent in June compared to the same month in 2014. The drop signifies the eighth uninterrupted monthly decline in milk sales.
As a result of a steady and constant shift in the diets of many Canadians, the per-capita consumption of milk has decreased by 18 per cent between 1995 and 2014 says the federal government.
Consequently, the Canadian dairy industry is facing challenges of having too much focus on supply rather than demand and is pushed to make changes to its supply management system.
When it comes to surplus milk, Canadian farmers are having to dump it or sell the excess production as cheap feed for animals.
The Canadian government is also planning to enter the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which could mean an overload of cheaper and imported dairy products.
The Globe and Mail notes that Canada’s official food guide states that adults are recommended to consume 500 millilitres, or two cups, of milk every day in order to meet the required vitamin D intake. The alternative is fortified soy milk.
