Republicans and Democrats in Congress this week introduced legislation aimed at banning the sale of dairy alternatives labeled as “milk” even though they are made from nuts, seeds or other non-dairy sources.
The DAIRY PRIDE Act, which stands for Defending Against Imitations and Replacements of Yogurt, Milk, and Cheese To Promote Regular Intake of Dairy Everyday, from Reps. Peter Welch, D-Vt., and Mike Simpson, R-Idaho, hopes to fight the spread of alternatives to dairy products, such as almond milk.
They argue that federal law already prohibits these products from being labeled as milk, yogurt, or cheese unless they are derived from “lacteal secretion, practically free from colostrum, obtained by the complete milking of one or more healthy cows.” But they say the Food and Drug Administration doesn’t enforce that law, and their bill is meant to make sure the FDA keeps these products off the market.
Welch said the loophole is hurting dairy farmers in his state.
“Vermont’s dairy farmers, already struggling to survive, are facing a growing threat due to the misleading practice of marketing plant-based products as milk,” he said.
Under the bill, the FDA would have 90 days to issue guidance on how it will enforce current law, to make sure products labeled as “milk” or “cream” aren’t delivered or sold if they don’t meet the FDA’s definition.
Aside from being misleading, the legislation argues that plant-based products labeled as “milk” aren’t as nutritious as milk from cows.
“Imitation dairy products, such as plant based products derived from rice, nuts, soybeans, hemp, coconut, algae, and other foods that imitate milk, yogurt, and cheese, often do not provide the same nutrition content as real milk, cheese, and yogurt derived from dairy cows,” it said.
