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Why are almond, oat, and soy drinks considered milk alternatives rather than dairy milk?

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Almond, oat, and soy drinks are classified as milk alternatives or replacements rather than dairy milk because they do not meet the biological definition of milk.

Milk is defined as a liquid secreted by the mammary glands of female mammals specifically to nourish their young. Because plant-based beverages are derived from sources such as ground almonds, soybeans, or oats mixed with water, they lack this biological origin and are therefore not considered dairy products.12