I'm a bit disappointed that you did not discuss more in depth the actual energy needs required to produce soy milk versus pasteurization for dairy milk.

Also, in this discussion I think that it is irrelevant what the so-called soy-buying consumer does for the environment. How does one really know that such consumers are doing more than others to preserve the environment? The question at hand was whether soy or dairy milk was more eco-friendly, not whether soy consumers or dairy consumers are more eco-friendly.

I would like to see more data on production/ processing/ transport for the two beverages. By the way, I am not a milk drinker either.

Green lantern- try silk chocolate- it's much better than plain or vanilla; i mix 1/3 silk with 2/3 skim milk... it tastes great! my kids drink chocolate straight.. i think it's a little sweet. Soy is about twice as much as milk in cost.. but it has so many vitamins, minerals, etc... i encourage my kids to drink it!

Also, soy milk has a longer shelf life, meaning fewer cartons wasted.

Another factor to consider is soy milk lite vs. regular soy milk vs. vanilla/flavored soy milk. Which product requires the least resources in production?

There is a multitude of information and statistics out there about the environmental impact and the fiscal impact of dairy vs soy (or other alternative 'milks' like almond and rice). Maybe we should stop and look into our hearts and look at what is best not only for the animals involved, but for our souls. We can live healthy lives without the use of any animals. We can make a choice to do the least damage and cause the least suffering by chosing to be vegan. Changing the foods that we are used to is not as hard as it seems. Our tastes adjust and you can end up enjoying non-animal products just as much as you enjoyed your foods before. Peace starts in our own lives and changing to a vegan diet is a huge step towards it.

I drink very little milk, opting instead for beer. It goes much better when serving up a big, thick, juicy steak.

I keep saying that! No one listens, though...

A few weeks ago, I butterflied a couple of lamb legs and barbecued them with some mustard, rosemary and onion jam. They were MOST tasty, and since six of us consumed five bottles of wine with dinner, I consider the meal a success.

However....the kid that sold me the lamb legs at a Certain Chain Grocery Store That Claims to Sell Organic Food But Doesn't, said that he was concerned about my health, and suggested a nice tofu stir fry. I thanked him for his concern, but pointed out that at fifteen years older than him, my blood pressure and cholesterol were lower than his and my muscle to fat ratio exceeded anything he could ever hope to achieve, I wasn't concerned enough to give up real food just yet.

Besides, when it comes to soy food-like products, well...you can eat it, but I wouldn't call it food.

As Julia Childs once said: "If you haven't any butter, then add a little cream."

1. Soy "milk" is not milk. Milk requires a teet, a mammal to produce it. Soy "milk" is juice!!! (Thank you Lewis Black).

2. Some people (me included) are allegic to soy products...leaves very little to eat now days let me tell you, so steak is a very good option.

3. Beer is living proof god loves us and wants us to be happy. (Thank you Ben Franklin)

4. My blood pressure and cholesterol are extremely low and my doctor says I am very healthy.

I am allergic to milk protein, so I have never had real milk.

Thanks for the soy milk, soy producers. Now, I can finally eat cereal and ice cream...and, you know, bake things.

"Maybe we should stop and look into our hearts and look at what is best not only for the animals involved, but for our souls. We can live healthy lives without the use of any animals. We can make a choice to do the least damage and cause the least suffering by chosing to be vegan. Changing the foods that we are used to is not as hard as it seems. Our tastes adjust and you can end up enjoying non-animal products just as much as you enjoyed your foods before. Peace starts in our own lives and changing to a vegan diet is a huge step towards it."

You are absolutely delusional if you think I'm ever going to choose to be a vegan. I don't even think it's healthy, and I can't get that worked up over animal rights when there are millions of people starving to death around the world. A person could promote peace by lobbying to end the war in Iraq, too. Worry about your own soul, but no one will go to hell for drinking cow's milk, so don't worry about mine.

With all due respect, concern for animal rights and concern for starving people are not necessarily mutually exclusive. A person can care about both and work for the benefit of both at the same time. Not trying to tell anyone what to do but I did want to point that out.

The problem with that is that most people don't care about both. It's usually one or the other.

PETA - People Eating Tasty Animals