US Senators Ask FDA to Ban Dairy-Like Terms on Plant-Based Product Labels

A bipartisan group of US senators, backed by the milk industry, has reintroduced the Dairy Pride Act, urging the FDA to crack down on "misleading" plant-based product labels. The bill aims to ban the use of terms like 'milk', 'cheese', and 'yoghurt' on non-dairy alternatives, arguing that these labels hurt farmers and confuse consumers. The FDA would be given a set timeline to enforce this change if the bill is enacted into law.

While the senators believe that non-dairy labels need to be reevaluated, research has shown that plant-based milks have nutritional value almost on par with conventional dairy products. The push to restrict dairy-like terms on plant-based products comes amidst a growing popularity of milk alternatives, highlighting a paradox in US legislation where lawmakers want children to have access to plant-based milk while also wanting restrictions on companies producing it.