The US Food and Drug Administration recommends that plant-based milk replacer drinks can be sold as milk

By: STA Date: 2023. 02. 19. 15:05

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends that plant-based milk replacer drinks be labeled “milk” by manufacturers. The organization of dairy enterprises is protesting.

(Photo: Pixabay)

According to a draft rule issued by the federal Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday, the move is permissible because manufacturers of plant-based drinks do not try to mislead consumers by making it look like their products come from the traditional dairy industry.

The difference must be marked

At the same time, in the planned changes, it is also recommended that the beverage manufacturers declare the plant from which the “milk” they produce is made. The authority also draws the attention of producers of alternative milks to indicate on a voluntary basis, on a separate label, that the nutritional content of their products – calcium, magnesium, vitamin D – falls short of that of traditional milk products. The draft regulation of the Food and Drug Administration applies only to milk-based drinks, not to products that replace other dairy products.

The National Association of American Dairy Farmers has expressed its opposition to being able to label plant-based beverages as milk. According to their argument, the proposal goes against the general meaning and interpretation of the concept of milk.

MTI