Pritha Pahari, The Core5 Aug 2026Saurav, a 27-year-old resident of Navi Mumbai, has bought the same tub of whey protein for three years, same brand, same 1kg pack, same monthly ritual after his gym membership renews. But when he checked his order history, he noticed that the price had been going up for two to three months until it crossed a threshold that made him realise that whey protein has gradually become more expensive. India is the world’s largest milk producer, yet it imports most of its whey protein because its dairy sector was never built to make cheese, the one thing that whey needs to exist. That gap is now colliding with a global protein boom, driven partly by weight-loss drugs that leave patients needing more protein. The result is a price rise that is now reaching the local pharmacy and fitness stores, and one that is unlikely to recede.