The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently released draft guidances on the labeling of plant-based alternatives to dairy. The FDA recognized that consumers are confused about the nutritional quality of plant-based beverages compared to cow’s milk. The FDA is accepting comments on the draft guidance for the voluntary labeling of plant-based milk alternatives thorough April 23, 2023.
The guidance encourages manufacturers of plant-based beverages that use dairy technology to voluntarily disclose the nutritional differences compared to milk, like adding the phrase, “contains lower amounts of Vitamin D and calcium than milk.”
What Checkoff and Industry Partners are Doing
- Sharing messaging to highlight the nutritional benefits of dairy compared to plant-based alternatives
- Engaging with key health and wellness media and thought leader audiences
- While we cannot take a position on legislation and policy, we will continue to share information and messaging from the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), as well as International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) and other industry partners.
What You Can Do
- Farmers can submit comments here.
- Continue to share positive messaging on milk’s health benefits through social media, letters to the editor, op-eds, and in conversations with consumers.