News

Dairy group encourages more to comment on imitation milk labeling

A dairy group is urging more people to comment on the Food and Drug Administration’s proposed dairy labeling guidelines.

Laurie Fischer with the American Dairy Coalition says FDA’s Draft Guidance on Labeling of Plant-Based Milk Alternatives is unacceptable.  She says the guidelines call for voluntary nutritional statements on imitation products, but many in the dairy industry disagree with FDA’s position. 

Plant-based companies and trade associations, including the American Beverage Association, support the proposed rule.  Fischer says if finalized, the rule would mean full speed ahead for fake alternatives to be labeled as ‘milk’ without containing any milk,  continuing to ignore their own standards of identity guidelines.

The American Dairy Coalition is also calling on the FDA to stop what they call the mislabeling of lab-created ‘fermentation-vat’ proteins advertised to the food industry and consumers as ‘dairy protein without the cow.’

The opportunity to comment on the FDA’s Draft Guidance on Labeling of Plant-Based Milk Alternatives ends July 31, 2023.  A link to the FDA comment site is here.