Consumption of Milk and Other Dairy Products as Influenced by Dietary Habits of Vegetarians and Non-vegetarians in Kamrup District of Assam, India: A Study

Consumption of dairy products plays a critical role in enhancing nutritional security of the humans. Current study was planned to estimate the expenditure on milk consumption pattern and preferences by different dietary groups in Kamrup district of Assam. Monthly Per Capita Expenditure (MPCE) of various food commodities also revealed significant differences in household spending patterns. Cereals had the highest mean expenditure pointed out their importance as a staple food item across households. Consumption of Pulses showed more consistent spending suggesting a steady role in household diets. Fruits and vegetables, demonstrated substantial variations in spending on food items. Expenditure on Meat consumption indicated substantial variability as per household preferences followed by Fish which highlighted the diverse consumption preferences in the study area. The multivariate test statistics indicated significant differences in the consumption patterns. This supported that there was a significant difference in the consumption of food products between vegetarians and non-vegetarians. Further, approximately forty percent of the variance in food consumption was explained by dietary pattern differences as expressed by Wilks' lambda, and remaining 58% was due to other factors. Moreover, Pillai’s trace and Lawley-Hotelling trace had confirmed significant differences, suggesting that dietary preferences substantially impact food expenditure. Vegetarian families tend to spend more on liquid milk, implying that milk plays a central role in the vegetarian diet, possibly as a primary source of protein. The most significant difference was seen in powder milk expenditure, where vegetarians spend more than non-vegetarians. Non-vegetarian households, spend more on curd, and also showed higher expenditure on paneer, ghee, and butter, though the differences in these items were less pronounced. Overall, the vegetarian households allocated more of their budget to powdered milk, sweets, and ice cream, while non-vegetarian households spent more on curd, paneer, and other dairy products.