Why are dairy products important for vegetarians?

People who have vegetarian diets that do not include any meat, poultry or fish can use dairy to add variety to the diet and provide good-quality protein, vitamins (B₂ and B₁₂ –found only in animal foods) and minerals (calcium, iodine, potassium, phosphorus).

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In general vegetarians do not eat any meat or animal flesh products, including red meat, poultry and fish. In a diet that does not include any meat, dairy offers an important source of good-quality protein. It also adds variety to a vegetarian diet and provides important nutrients such as calcium, riboflavin, vitamin B12, iodine, potassium and phosphorus. As vitamin B12 is generally found only in foods of animal origin, dairy and eggs are an important source of this vitamin for vegetarians.