Your Action Needed: Stop the exploitation of the word “Milk” by non-dairy alternatives

Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), chair of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, along with Senator John Risch (R-ID) have reintroduced a piece of legislation that may sound familiar to some following the debate over the labeling of non-dairy products with product names derived from familiar dairy products like yogurt, milk, and cheese. The Defending Against Imitations and Replacements of Yogurt, milk, and cheese to Promote Regular Intake of Dairy Everyday Act (DAIRY PRIDE Act) is a bipartisan piece of legislation that would prohibit non-dairy products from using names like milk, yogurt, or cheese. Companion legislation is being introduced in the House by Representative Peter Welch (D-VT) and Representative Milk Simpson (R-ID).

The bill would also require the FDA to issue guidance for the enforcement of mislabeled imitation dairy products and establish a reporting requirement to Congress to ensure the FDA is held accountable for the enforcement obligations.

How you can help:

Dairy terms like milk, yogurt, and cheese are built upon years of product consistency thanks to farmers who take pride in providing nutritious and affordable products the public can count on. Allowing non-dairy products to utilize these terms on product labels containing nut, seed, and plant byproducts is misleading to consumers and compromises the confidence consumers have in the nutritional contents of the products they have come to know and love.

Reach out to your legislator and ask they support the DAIRY PRIDE Act. Doing so supports farmers and consumers alike and encourages transparency in product labeling.

You can learn more about the DAIRY PRIDE Act here: https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/dairy-pride-act-2021

Find your elected officials here: Contact Your Elected Officials