U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) cosponsored bipartisan legislation to support Pennsylvania dairy farmers and help low-income families purchase more healthy dairy products. The Dairy Nutrition Incentive Program Act will create a program within the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to help families purchase and consume more nutrient-rich dairy products including yogurt and cheese. The Defending Against Imitations and Replacements of Yogurt, milk, and cheese to Promote Regular Intake of Dairy Everyday (DAIRY PRIDE) Act will clarify dairy product labeling requirements to help consumers better understand differences in nutritional value when making choices at the grocery store. These two bills have garnered robust support from senators on both sides of the aisle.
“From boosting our economy to feeding our families, Pennsylvania dairy farmers keep the Commonwealth going,” said Senator Casey. “Supporting agriculture is critical to making sure we all can put healthy food on the table. I will always fight to make sure that families have access to nutritious meals and our farmers have the support they need.”
The Dairy Nutrition Incentive Program Act will help more Pennsylvanians meet their dairy consumption recommendations. This legislation would expand upon the Healthy Fluid Milk Incentives program, which promotes milk purchases for SNAP participants, to include products like cheese and yogurt. The bill will create the Dairy Nutrition Incentive Program, which would require the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to develop methods to increase the consumption of naturally nutrient-rich dairy products and provide grants for states and nonprofits to help families buy these products.
The DAIRY PRIDE Act will reinforce existing dairy product labeling requirements, ensuring clarity and accuracy in product labeling. This would prevent companies for labeling products with dairy terms including “milk, yogurt, or cheese” when describing products that are not from dairy animals. This legislation will require the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to develop new guidelines to clearly distinguish dairy and nondairy products and help customers understand the nutrition profiles of their choices. Additionally, this bill will require FDA to update Congress on its enforcement efforts.