MADISON – On April 24, Wisconsin Farm Bureau submitted comments to the FDA in opposition to their plant-based milk alternative labeling.
In the comments, WFBF calls on FDA to vigorously enforce food standards regarding the labeling of dairy substitute products and prohibit the misleading labeling of nut and plant-based beverage products as “milk” or other common dairy terms.
“Plant-based alternatives are not milk yet are marketed utilizing the same terminology inside the dairy case,” said WFBF President Kevin Krentz. “While WFBF supports a consumer’s right to access dairy-free products for allergies and personal preferences, labeling these beverages as ‘milk’ causes confusion from a nutritional equivalency standpoint.”
WFBF believes that plant-based beverages marketing themselves as milk should follow the directives of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.
“Current FDA guidance runs the risk of undercutting the entire current FDA labeling framework for imitation products, causing detriment to farmers, processors and all consumers,” added Krentz. “WFBF urges the FDA to amend their draft guidance to prohibit the use of dairy terms on non-dairy substitutes unless they follow proper use of imitation terminology defined by existing law.”
You can read WFBF’s comments here.
The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation is the state’s largest general farm organization, representing farms of every size, commodity and management style.
