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FDA getting more pressure to enforce dairy labeling laws

The Food and Drug Administration is getting more pressure to enforce food labeling laws that are already on the books. 

Chris Galen with the National Milk Producers Federation says language Congress placed in the government funding package sent to President Trump shows they want FDA to enforce its own food labeling rules in 2020.  “There’s a new FDA Commissioner who’s just starting a job there, so we’re hoping that as part of his to-do list as he gets in there, that he will take a look at label enforcement.”

In Wisconsin, three bills authored by Senator Howard Marklein were well received in hearings and this week, they easily passed the Ag Committee he chairs. “We are encouraging the federal government to enforce existing labeling laws and support farmers by promoting real milk, dairy, and meat products. Passing these bills will add more pressure to this effort.”

The Wisconsin legislation would restrict imitation milk, dairy ingredients, and meat products from using dairy and meat terms. 

Several states have either passed or are working on meat labeling laws.  State guidelines for milk labeling exist in North Carolina, but Marklein says his Wisconsin bills are the only ones that address products like cheese, yogurt, and dairy ingredients.