Key takeaways:
- The FDA has released draft rules that allow plant-based drinks to continue labeling themselves as “milk.”
- The FDA recommends that beverage makers label their products clearly by the plant source of the food, such as “soy milk” or “cashew milk.”
- The draft rules also allow for voluntary extra nutrition labels that note when the drinks have lower levels of certain nutrients than dairy milk.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has released draft rules that allow plant-based drinks to continue labeling themselves as “milk.” The rules also call for voluntary extra nutrition labels that note when the drinks have lower levels of certain nutrients than dairy milk.
The FDA recommends that beverage makers label their products clearly by the plant source of the food, such as “soy milk” or “cashew milk.” This is in response to dairy producers who have called for the FDA to crack down on plant-based drinks and other products that they say masquerade as animal-based foods and cloud the real meaning of “milk.”
The draft rules also allow for voluntary extra nutrition labels that note when the drinks have lower levels of certain nutrients than dairy milk. This includes calcium, vitamin A, vitamin D, and protein.
The FDA’s draft rules are open for public comment until April 13, 2021. After this period, the FDA will consider the comments before issuing a final rule.
The new rules provide clarity for consumers and producers alike. Plant-based drinks can continue to label themselves as “milk,” while consumers can make informed decisions based on the clear labeling of the plant source of the food.
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