Milk is displayed at a grocery store in Philadelphia, Tuesday, July 12, 2022. Food and Drug Administration officials have issued guidance stating that plant-based beverages do not pretend to be from animal milk – and US consumers are not confused by the difference.
Matt Rourke/AP
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Matt Rourke/AP
Milk is displayed at a grocery store in Philadelphia, Tuesday, July 12, 2022. Food and Drug Administration officials have issued guidance stating that plant-based beverages are not counterfeit. Pretend to be from animal milk – and US consumers are not confused by the difference.
Matt Rourke/AP
Soybeans, oats, almonds and other beverages that advertise themselves as “milk” can continue to use the name, according to a draft federal rule released Wednesday.
Food and Drug Administration Officials issued instructions That said, plant-based beverages don’t pretend to be from animal milk — and US consumers aren’t confused by the difference.
Dairy manufacturers have for years called on the FDA to crack down on plant-based beverages and other products that they say disguise themselves as foods of animal origin and obscure the true meaning of dairy products. “milk”.
Under the draft rule, the agency recommends that beverage manufacturers clearly label their products about the plant origin of the food, such as “soy milk” or “cashew milk.” .
The rules also call for voluntary nutritional labeling with additional notes when beverages are lower in nutrients than milk, such as calcium, magnesium or vitamin D. They will continue to allow note labeling when Plant-based beverages are higher in content. Fortified soy milk is the only plant-based food included in the dairy category in the US dietary guidelines because of its nutritional profile.
FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf said in a statement that the new guidelines aim to provide consumers with clear nutritional information. The draft rules do not apply to non-dairy products other than beverages, such as yogurt.
The National Dairy Producers Federation, an industry trade group, welcomed the call to add nutritional information on beverage labels, but said it rejected the FDA’s conclusion that the beverage was of food origin. can be called milk because that is the “common and common name”.
The Good Food Institute, a group that advocates for plant-based products, objected to the extra labeling in a statement, saying “misguided guidance advises companies to compare directly” with cow’s milk. , although key nutrients were required. listed.
In recent years, the number of plant-based beverages has exploded to include dozens of varieties, including beverages derived from cashews, coconuts, hemp and quinoa. Although drinks are made from liquid extracts of plant materials, they are often labeled – and described – as “milk”.
In the US, almond milk is the most popular, but oat milk is experiencing the fastest growth. However, non-dairy sales are still dwarfed by traditional milk. According to NielsenIQ, sales of chilled cow’s milk grew to $12.3 billion in the 52 weeks ended January 28, compared with $2.5 billion for non-dairy milk.
In the past, legislators in dairy states have tried to pass bills that would require the FDA to enforce a federal standard that defines “milk” as the product of “milking one or more healthy cows.” “.
The agency will receive comments on the draft guidance until April 23.
