U.S. whey protein inventories have decreased by approximately 50 percent since 2023. A USDA report from late April indicated that some suppliers had sold out of whey protein for the remainder of the year.

Whey protein isolate prices have reached $14 per pound. The USDA issued a statement on June 25 stating, "The market remains extremely tight, with product largely unavailable and buyers continuing to report difficulty securing supply."

Whey is a byproduct of the cheesemaking process. Dairy analyst Phil Plourd said, "The issue is not milk from the farm." He added, "We've had decent milk growth for more than a year and a half now."

The processing capacity to convert liquid whey into powder is constrained. Plourd described the situation as, "It's a multi-dimensional supply exercise." Additional specialized filtration infrastructure required for whey processing can take years to gain approval.

Approximately 70 percent of Americans are trying to consume more protein, according to the International Food Information Council. This figure represents an increase from four years prior, when 59 percent of Americans sought to increase their protein intake. Wendy Reinhardt Kapsak, president and CEO of the International Food Information Council, said, "Protein is riding a wave of popularity, powered by trends in weight management, fitness and healthy aging." She also stated, "Our data show it is the most sought-after nutrient, the most followed eating pattern, and the top characteristic consumers use to define a 'healthy' food."

Four major medical societies published a joint set of nutritional guidelines for patients using GLP-1 receptors. These guidelines advise patients to consume more protein to help avoid muscle loss.

Fatima Cody Stanford, an obesity medicine physician scientist, said, "When you're on GLP-1s and a responder, you see a decline in the desire to eat or drink." She added, "We see a decline in lean muscle when patients are on GLP-1s, so we need to ramp up protein."