“What kind of milk would you like with that?”

Baristas ask this question every day, and every day people choose their favorite milk. But at the heart of this simple exchange is something more complex.

Many people pay extra for plant-based milks for health or environmental benefits. But a new study from Arizona State University suggests alternative milks may not always deliver what buyers expect.

“Many consumers pay premiums for these products in the belief that they’re contributing to all these societal goals. Well, the question is to what extent they are contributing or not,” says Mauricio Bellon , lead author of the study and research professor at ASU’s Swette Center for Sustainable Food Systems .

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