Whey prices have quadrupled since 2023. Now its protein costs about as much as eggs
Getting 25 grams of protein from wholesale whey cost about $0.81 in September. The same amount from grocery store eggs cost $0.75. According to weekly USDA market reports, whey protein concentrate (WPC80) was around $11.75 per pound last month—which is over four times as much as in mid-2023, when its wholesale price was $2.50. While the prices have eased since they hit a record $13 per pound in June, whey is far from being the cheap protein source it once was.
Key takeaways
- In September, the wholesale price of 25 grams of protein from whey protein concentrate 80% was about $0.81, compared to $0.75 for eggs, $0.79 for whole milk, and $1.03 for chicken breast.
- WPC80 costs 4.7 times as much as in mid-2023, at $11.75 per pound on average.
- The price increase is driven by a surge in demand for high-protein products. The ongoing trade war between Canada and the US raises concerns.
The cost of 25 grams of protein
In September 2026, obtaining 25 grams of protein cost $0.75 for eggs, $0.81 for wholesale whey, $0.83 for milk, and $1.02 for chicken breast.
Wholesale whey once was one of the cheapest sources of protein. In mid-2023, 25 grams of protein from WPC80 cost about $0.17. In June 2026, when it hit its record of $13 per pound, the price per 25 grams of protein rose to $0.90. In September, it fell back to about $0.81, but it’s far from its 2023 levels.
As of September, a dozen eggs cost around $2.27. Since one egg packs approximately 6.3 grams of protein, the cost per 25 grams of protein comes up to $0.75. That’s 7% cheaper than whey. Whole milk costs $4.11 per gallon. It contains roughly 130 grams of protein per gallon, so $0.79 per 25 grams of protein—roughly the same as WPC80. Chicken breast is still more expensive. At $4.20 and 102.1 grams of protein per pound, it costs 27% more than whey per 25 grams of protein, at $1.03.
In the week of October 5-9, the WPC80 price per pound decreased to $9.50-$11, making it fall slightly below eggs in terms of the price per 25 grams of protein.
Why did whey get so expensive?
A jump from $0.17 to $0.81 per 25 grams of protein is significant—it means that whey costs 4.7 times as much as in mid-2023. At its peak in June, it was 5.2 times as expensive.
Joshua White of dairy trader T.C. Jacoby & Co. told Food Business News that whey is now everywhere in grocery stores. Supply has struggled to keep up, as more plants shift production toward whey protein isolate, an even higher-value product, USDA reports.
The ongoing trade war between the US and Canada raises more concerns. As reported by CNN, the US imposed 50% tariffs on many Canadian dairy products, including whey. Canada responded with matching 50% tariffs on American goods, including whey. The US now threatens to ban many Canadian whey products altogether.
Wholesale vs. retail
It’s important to note that these are wholesale prices. They don’t include packaging, storage, transportation, or marketing costs. Therefore, the cost for the consumer is much higher, making the gap between everyday foods and whey protein concentrate even bigger.
One analyst told CNN that they expect the prices to keep rising all the way through to early 2027.
Methodology
Retail prices for eggs, whole milk and boneless chicken breast are September 2026 averages from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Protein content comes from USDA FoodData Central: 6.3 g per large egg, 130 g per gallon of whole milk and 102.1 g per pound of raw chicken breast.
WPC80 prices are midpoints of the weekly ranges reported by USDA Dairy Market News (Whey Protein Concentrate – Central and West), averaged across the four September 2026 reports. The mid-2023 WPC80 price is an estimate from T.C. Jacoby & Co., as reported by Food Business News. WPC80 is assumed to be 80% protein.
Sources
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