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Silk (soy milk)
Encyclopedia
Silk is a brand of soy milk
and other dairy-substitute products, including soy yogurt
and almond milk
distributed by White Wave Foods, a subsidiary of Dean Foods
. The name "Silk" is a portmanteau of "soy" and "milk".
In 2002 White Wave, Inc (parent of Silk Soymilk) was sold to Dean Foods for just under $300 million. The company's sales grew to $350 million in annual revenues by 2005. As the business grew, Silk became the largest purchaser of organic, Non GMO soybeans in the North America.
In January 2010, the company introduced Silk Pure Almond, an almond milk
, and its first non-soy-based product.
Silk has been a supporter of Farm Aid since 2002.
Silk is a member of the Soyfoods Association of North America, (SANA) which provides information about the health benefits and nutritional advantages of soy consumption.
(OCA) called for a boycott of Silk brand products. The OCA reported that a portion of the soy beans used in Silk are sourced from countries with unacceptable labor and certification standards including Brazil
and China
. The OCA has called for boycotts of Horizon Organic
brand milk, as well as other subsidiaries of Silk's distributor Dean Foods.
The official Silk web site reported in August 2009 that all its soy beans are sourced from North America including organic and non-GMO soybeans.
In the fall of 2009 the Pioneer Press reported that the Cornucopia Institute had made complaints to the U.S. Department of Agriculture accusing Silk producer Dean Foods and its WhiteWave Foods division, of shifting their products away from organics without properly notifying retailers or consumers. According to the Star Telegram and other news sources, Silk brand soy milk was made using organic soybeans until early 2009 when Dean Foods switched to conventional soybeans while maintaining the same UPC barcodes and prices on the Silk products while replacing the word “organic” with “natural” on the Silk product packaging.
Soy milk
Soy milk and sometimes referred to as soy drink/beverage is a beverage made from soybeans. A stable emulsion of oil, water, and protein, it is produced by soaking dry soybeans and grinding them with water...
and other dairy-substitute products, including soy yogurt
Soy yogurt
Soy yogurt, also referred to as Soya yogurt, Soygurt or Yofu , is yogurt prepared with soy milk.-Ingredients:...
and almond milk
Almond milk
Almond milk is a milky drink made from ground almonds. Unlike animal milk, almond milk contains no cholesterol or lactose. Regular, unsweetened almond milk can be used as a substitute for animal milk in many recipes, and as it does not contain any animal products, is suitable for vegetarians and...
distributed by White Wave Foods, a subsidiary of Dean Foods
Dean Foods
Dean Foods is an American food and beverage company with two operating divisions: Fresh Dairy Direct and WhiteWave-Morningstar. The company maintains plants and distributors in the United States and the United Kingdom. Dean Foods products are sold throughout the USA.-History:In 1925, Samuel E...
. The name "Silk" is a portmanteau of "soy" and "milk".
History
Silk was founded by Steve Demos in Boulder, Colorado. The first product was introduced in March of 1996 by White Wave, Inc. at the Natural Foods Expo in Anaheim, California. In the years that followed, Silk became a successful, world-wide, organic brand.In 2002 White Wave, Inc (parent of Silk Soymilk) was sold to Dean Foods for just under $300 million. The company's sales grew to $350 million in annual revenues by 2005. As the business grew, Silk became the largest purchaser of organic, Non GMO soybeans in the North America.
In January 2010, the company introduced Silk Pure Almond, an almond milk
Almond milk
Almond milk is a milky drink made from ground almonds. Unlike animal milk, almond milk contains no cholesterol or lactose. Regular, unsweetened almond milk can be used as a substitute for animal milk in many recipes, and as it does not contain any animal products, is suitable for vegetarians and...
, and its first non-soy-based product.
Green business practices
Silk has been a five year recipient of the Green Power Leadership Award from the U.S. Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency.Silk has been a supporter of Farm Aid since 2002.
Silk is a member of the Soyfoods Association of North America, (SANA) which provides information about the health benefits and nutritional advantages of soy consumption.
Controversy
In 2009 the Organic Consumers AssociationOrganic Consumers Association
The Organic Consumers Association is a consumer protection and organic agriculture advocacy group based in Finland, Minnesota. It was formed in 1998 in the wake of the mass backlash by organic consumers against the U.S. Department of Agriculture's controversial proposed regulations for organic food...
(OCA) called for a boycott of Silk brand products. The OCA reported that a portion of the soy beans used in Silk are sourced from countries with unacceptable labor and certification standards including Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
and China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. The OCA has called for boycotts of Horizon Organic
Horizon Organic
Horizon Organic®, founded in 1991 in the United States , is a certified dairy that produces and supplies organic milk products. Horizon Organic is owned by Dean Foods and its products are distributed by WhiteWave Foods.-Current status:...
brand milk, as well as other subsidiaries of Silk's distributor Dean Foods.
The official Silk web site reported in August 2009 that all its soy beans are sourced from North America including organic and non-GMO soybeans.
In the fall of 2009 the Pioneer Press reported that the Cornucopia Institute had made complaints to the U.S. Department of Agriculture accusing Silk producer Dean Foods and its WhiteWave Foods division, of shifting their products away from organics without properly notifying retailers or consumers. According to the Star Telegram and other news sources, Silk brand soy milk was made using organic soybeans until early 2009 when Dean Foods switched to conventional soybeans while maintaining the same UPC barcodes and prices on the Silk products while replacing the word “organic” with “natural” on the Silk product packaging.
List of Products
- Refrigerated soy milk: Plain, Vanilla, Very Vanilla, Chocolate, Unsweetened, Plain Plus Fiber, Plain Plus Omega-3 DHA
- Light soy milk: Plain, Vanilla, Chocolate
- Shelf-stable soy milk: Plain Aseptic, Vanilla Aseptic, Unsweetened Aseptic, StarbucksStarbucksStarbucks Corporation is an international coffee and coffeehouse chain based in Seattle, Washington. Starbucks is the largest coffeehouse company in the world, with 17,009 stores in 55 countries, including over 11,000 in the United States, over 1,000 in Canada, over 700 in the United Kingdom, and...
Vanilla Aseptic (A special blend made for use and purchase in Starbucks' stores) - Shelf-stable single-serve soy milk: Very Vanilla, Chocolate
- Specialty soy milk: Chai Tea, Coffee, Mocha, Spice, Pumpkin Spice (seasonal), Nog (seasonal), Chocolate Mint (seasonal)
- Silk Live! soy smoothie: Blueberry, Raspberry, Peach, Mango, Strawberry.
- Silk Live! soy yogurt: Banana Strawberry, Black Cherry, Blueberry, Key Lime, Peach, Raspberry, Strawberry, Vanilla
- Family-size soy yogurt: Plain, Vanilla
- Soy creamer: Original, Hazelnut, French Vanilla
- Almond milk: Original, Unsweetened, Vanilla, Dark Chocolate
- Coconut milk: Original, Vanilla