On Monday, Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation submitted comments to the Food and Drug Administration urging them to ensure plant-based milk alternatives are appropriately labeled and do not take advantage of milk’s good name. FDA requested comments on its draft guidance titled Labeling of Plant-Based Milk Alternatives and Voluntary Nutrient Statements: Guidance for Industry.
According to a survey used by FDA, one in four Americans, or 83 million people, are confused or have felt misled about whether dairy alternatives contain milk. These milk alternatives are sold on shelves next to milk, use the term “milk” on their labels, and use milk-related imagery on their packaging but lack many of the nutrients found in cow’s milk.
“A consumer’s ability to make informed purchasing decisions about their food is paramount,” writes Tennessee Farm Bureau President Eric Mayberry. “FDA must be vigilant in ensuring food labels accurately reflect the products by establishing precise labeling requirements signifying the difference between plant-based milk alternatives and milk.”
Read the full comments here.
