Milk not nuts

Milk not nuts

David Sparks Ph.D.
David Sparks Ph.D.
Some time ago, some states enacted mandatory food labeling laws because consumers have the right to know what’s in what they’re eating. At that time, Colorado Corn Communications Director Eric Brown expressed these feelings. “Well we need to keep food labeling consistent state to state much as food crosses state lines. So as much as food crosses state lines, its got to be consistent.” Here's where I am going with this line of reasoning. If a consumer loves milk, does that mean he will necessarily like almond milk or coconut milk or milk of magnesia. The American Farm Bureau is concerned with labeling foods in a way that can be misleading. Consumers associate dairy foods with specific positive nutritional characteristics, and those qualities do not necessarily carry over to nut- or plant-based products labeled as “milk,” “yogurt” or “cheese,” the American Farm Bureau Federation told federal regulators this week. For example, one serving of traditional milk contains 8 grams of protein while many plant- and nut-based beverages have a lower protein content.

 

In formal comments to the Food and Drug Administration, AFBF said the mislabeling of nut- and plant-based beverages as “milk” confuses consumers from a nutritional equivalency standpoint. The FDA expects to issue a rule on the use of the names of dairy foods in the labeling of plant-based products later this year.

Previous ReportWhere is the snow
Next ReportPreventing Infestations