The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) has raised serious concerns over the use of dairy terminology in plant-based beverage labeling, leading to consumer confusion. In response to the FDA's draft guidance on the matter, NMPF asserts that more robust measures are necessary to tackle this issue effectively.
NMPF, representing American dairy producers, stresses the significance of transparent product labeling to empower consumers to make informed choices. The Federation wants the FDA to quickly and firmly take action against non-dairy drinks that use dairy terms improperly to benefit from the healthy image of real dairy products
Jim Mulhern, President, and CEO of NMPF, acknowledges the FDA's draft guidance as a step forward in promoting transparency but deems it insufficient. NMPF has submitted comments proposing concrete solutions to combat misleading labeling practices within the plant-based beverage industry. These solutions aim to provide clear and truthful labeling options for marketers of such products.
NMPF appreciates the FDA's acknowledgement of consumer confusion regarding the nutritional content of dairy imitators. The Federation, however, expresses its ongoing frustration with the FDA's lack of enforcement of its own standards of identity for milk and milk products, which continues to impact the market negatively.
NMPF is working hard in Congress to pass the DAIRY PRIDE Act, which tells the FDA to follow its own rules about dairy terms on labels. This legislation would direct the FDA to enforce its own rules and clarify that dairy-related terms are reserved for authentic dairy products.
Source : wisconsinagconnection