Cottage Cheese Sees Resurgence as Lasting Trend

After a TikTok-fueled boost, cottage cheese sales continue to climb, signaling a lasting comeback for the dairy product.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 6:54pm

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A high-end, photorealistic studio still-life photograph featuring a simple arrangement of premium, polished white ceramic cottage cheese containers on a clean, monochromatic background. The containers are lit dramatically with sharp shadows, conceptually representing the refined, elevated status of cottage cheese as a modern, nutritious dairy product.The resurgence of cottage cheese as a popular, nutritious dairy snack suggests the product's comeback is more than just a passing trend.Arlington Today

Cottage cheese sales have seen a significant resurgence in recent years, with volumes jumping 14.3% in 2025 to reach 746.6 million pints. This follows a 9.4% increase in 2023 and a 12.5% rise in 2024, indicating that the trend is not just a fleeting fad. USDA per-capita consumption data also shows cottage cheese reaching its highest levels since 2009, suggesting there is still room for the product to grow and become a more prominent part of American diets.

Why it matters

The cottage cheese comeback is an important indicator that dairy's recent gains in the consumer marketplace are meant to last. After decades of decline, cottage cheese has managed to capture the attention of younger consumers, particularly through TikTok trends, and is now seeing sustained growth. This signals that dairy products can adapt to changing consumer preferences and remain relevant, even for items that were once considered outdated.

The details

Cottage cheese sales bottomed out in 2022 at 534.6 million pints but have since risen steadily, increasing by 9.4% in 2023, 12.5% in 2024, and 14.3% in 2025 to reach 746.6 million pints. USDA per-capita consumption data shows a similar trend, with cottage cheese consumption reaching its highest level since 2009. In 1976, at the height of the product's popularity, per-capita consumption was 4.63 pounds, nearly twice the 2.37 pounds recorded in 2024, indicating there is still significant room for growth.

  • Cottage cheese sales bottomed out in 2022 at 534.6 million pints.
  • In 2023, cottage cheese sales rose 9.4%.
  • In 2024, cottage cheese sales rose 12.5%.
  • In 2025, cottage cheese sales rose 14.3% to 746.6 million pints.
  • USDA per-capita consumption data shows cottage cheese reaching its highest level since 2009 in 2024.

The players

USDA

The United States Department of Agriculture, which provides per-capita consumption data for dairy products.

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The takeaway

The cottage cheese comeback is a testament to dairy's ability to adapt to changing consumer preferences and remain relevant. What was once considered a dowdy, outdated product has managed to capture the attention of younger consumers, particularly through social media trends. This sustained growth suggests that dairy's recent gains in the consumer marketplace are more than just a fleeting fad, and that cottage cheese, in particular, has the potential to become a more prominent part of American diets in the years to come.