Soy, oatmeal and almond drinks can still be called milk, US regulators say

Soy, oats, almonds and other beverages that present themselves as milk can continue to use the term, according to draft federal rules released Wednesday.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officials have issued guidelines that plant-based beverages do not claim to be from dairy animals — and U.S. consumers are not baffled by the difference.
For years, dairy farmers have been asking the FDA to crack down on plant-based beverages and other products they claim are impersonating for foods of animal origin and obscure the true meaning of the term "milk".
Under draft d e rules, the agency recommends that beverage makers clearly label their products based on the food's plant source, such as soy milk or cashew milk.
The rules also require additional voluntary nutrition labels that indicate whether drinks have lower levels of nutrients – such as calcium, magnesium or vitamin D – than dairy milk.
The new guidelines are intended to provide consumers with clear nutrition information, FDA Commissioner Robert Califf said in a statement. The draft rules do not apply to non-dairy products other than beverages, such as yogurt.
The National Federation of Dairy Producers, a trade group in the industry, applauded the call for additional nutrition information on drink labels, but said it rejects the FDA's conclusion that plant-based drinks can be called milk because it's a "common name and usual".
The Good Food Institute, a group that advocates for plant-based products, opposed the additional labeling.
In recent years, the number of plant-based beverages has exploded to include dozens of varieties, including cashew-liquid extracts of plant materials made from coconut, hemp and quinoa labeled - and described - as milk.
In the United States, almond milk is the most popular variety. most popular, but oat milk has grown the fastest. However, sales of chilled cow's milk reached $12.3 billion in the year ending Jan. 28, compared to $2.5 billion for non-dairy milk, according to the consumer information firm. NielsenIQ.
In the past, dairy state legislators have attempted to pass legislation requiring the FDA to enforce a federal standard defining milk as a cow product.< /p>

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Soy, oatmeal and almond drinks can still be called milk, US regulators say

Soy, oats, almonds and other beverages that present themselves as milk can continue to use the term, according to draft federal rules released Wednesday.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officials have issued guidelines that plant-based beverages do not claim to be from dairy animals — and U.S. consumers are not baffled by the difference.

For years, dairy farmers have been asking the FDA to crack down on plant-based beverages and other products they claim are impersonating for foods of animal origin and obscure the true meaning of the term "milk".

Under draft d e rules, the agency recommends that beverage makers clearly label their products based on the food's plant source, such as soy milk or cashew milk.

The rules also require additional voluntary nutrition labels that indicate whether drinks have lower levels of nutrients – such as calcium, magnesium or vitamin D – than dairy milk.

The new guidelines are intended to provide consumers with clear nutrition information, FDA Commissioner Robert Califf said in a statement. The draft rules do not apply to non-dairy products other than beverages, such as yogurt.

The National Federation of Dairy Producers, a trade group in the industry, applauded the call for additional nutrition information on drink labels, but said it rejects the FDA's conclusion that plant-based drinks can be called milk because it's a "common name and usual".

The Good Food Institute, a group that advocates for plant-based products, opposed the additional labeling.

In recent years, the number of plant-based beverages has exploded to include dozens of varieties, including cashew-liquid extracts of plant materials made from coconut, hemp and quinoa labeled - and described - as milk.

In the United States, almond milk is the most popular variety. most popular, but oat milk has grown the fastest. However, sales of chilled cow's milk reached $12.3 billion in the year ending Jan. 28, compared to $2.5 billion for non-dairy milk, according to the consumer information firm. NielsenIQ.

In the past, dairy state legislators have attempted to pass legislation requiring the FDA to enforce a federal standard defining milk as a cow product.< /p>