Why are Protein Drinks Suddenly So Popular?

by Domenica Russem

Recently, a dramatic spike in the production of protein drinks has been seen across the fast-food industry. Companies such as Starbucks, Dunkin, Tropical Smoothie, Smoothie King, Burger King, Baskin-Robbins, and Coffee Bean have recently added protein-based drinks to their menus, resulting in an increase in protein drink purchases. When asked about recent increases in protein drink consumption, junior Lauren Frasher stated she was influenced to purchase protein drinks by her peers, suggesting the recent popularity of protein drinks may be based on trends rather than actual health benefits. This led me to investigate how social media may influence the sale of protein drinks, especially considering online platforms have proven to play a significant role in adolescents' daily lives. Junior Natalie Rojas describes seeing colorful and playful ads that influenced customers to buy protein drinks, proving that marketing tactics may be one of many factors contributing to the rise in protein drink consumption by targeting adolescents through influencer platforms. Overall, the recent increase in protein drink popularity may be due to influence from peers and social media campaigns rather than health benefits.