Soy gaining on cow's milk
by Nimisha Raja

Vegans and lactose-intolerant people rejoice! Take a look at your local supermarket's dairy section, and you'll notice soy beverages right next to cow's milk. Not only are they no longer buried somewhere in the alternative products section, several brands are now fortified with vitamins and minerals
Why hasn't there been an uproar from the dairy industry? It's simple: they're in on it. Apparently there's some serious cash to be made from this relatively new category. While minuscule compared to traditional dairy ($3 billion-plus in Canada in 1997), sales of dairy-free soy and rice beverages ($10 million in Canada last year) grew 49% in a single year. Hence, Dairyworld Foods, an outgrowth of several Western dairy co-operatives, has formed an alliance with Soya World Inc. of Vancouver to market SoGood. SoGood has a long history in Australia where it has been sold in supermarkets for years. Aussies now consume eight times more non-dairy beverages than do Canadians.
SoGood, made from a soy extract that offers nutrition without the "beany" taste, is the latest entry into the Canadian market. SoGood is also fortified with calcium and B12 and comes in regular, vanilla and chocolate flavours. It is available at Loblaws, Zehrs, Fortino, IGA and Sobey supermarkets.
Prior to Dec. 1, 1997, Health Canada prevented the fortification of non-dairy beverages.
While fortification is great, don't forget the inherent benefits of soy beverages and other soy products. They have isoflavens (plant estrogen) that reduce blood cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease. They may also relieve the symptoms of menopause, deter the onset of osteoporosis, improve brain function and inhibit cancer of the breast and prostate.
Other companies selling soy beverages include Neilson Dairy (Soy Delight), Beatrice, and Loblaws' President's Choice. Be sure to check the labels, since not all of them have climbed onto the fortification wagon yet. Also see Letters for a debate about fortifying with vitamin D.
Adapted from The Toronto Star, Jan. 23 1998

A new soy milk priced to sell
by David Bronfman
There is a new soy milk on the market, available in some supermarkets, that has 230 mg of calcium per cup (cow's milk contains 300 mg). So Nice, ProSoya, available in two litre beverage cartons, is made in B.C. and has been previously available without the new high calcium content, which can be attributed to a new formulation. It is not a "fortified" product per se, even though calcium fortified non-dairy milks are now allowed in Canada. This soy milk is also priced at $2.99 for two litres, much less than ordinary soy milk.