Labeling of food products has been a hot topic in agriculture for a few years. Whether it is country of origin or even what products can call themselves what, there have been many attempts at commonsense and accurate labeling. The dairy industry has been advocating for clear labeling to differentiate their products from plant-based alternatives. There is legislation moving in both chambers of Congress that supporters say return integrity to dairy product labeling.
The Dairy Pride Act has been introduced in both the House and the Senate, and the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) supports this chance to make the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) enforce existing labeling standards on alternative dairy products. NMPF?s Chris Galen says they want to see consumer confusion cleared up.
Galen says that the existing guidelines in the FDA allow for these labels to be clearer between dairy and dairy alternatives. He says this should also be a part of what is used in meat and plant-based alternatives.
Galen says it is not about changing the rules. They want the FDA to follow the existing rules which have been on the books for decades. Something the NMPF wants to see change.
There has been no new head of the FDA nominated by President Biden. Galen says they want to see this topic raised during any confirmation hearings in the Senate.
More information can be found at the NMPF website.
