Poll: Plant-based beverage processors should refrain from using “milk” on product labels
Most Americans believe that the U.S. Food & Drug Administration should restrict plant-based beverage companies from using the word “milk” on product labels.
Half of all Americans (49%) believe that non-dairy brands should not be allowed to use the term “milk” on their product labels because they are often less nutritious than dairy milk, according to a poll conducted on behalf of the National Milk Producers Federation, Arlington, Va. However, half of Americans (47%) also believe that allowing companies to use the word “milk” on non-dairy beverages, despite a policy that restricts imitation dairy foods derived from plants from being labeled as a type of milk, has no effect on their confidence in food labeling.
A little less than half said it made them less confident in U.S. food labeling, while a small minority said it made them more confident. When informed that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration currently defines “milk” as the product of an animal, but doesn’t enforce the labeling rule, most respondents (61%) said they believe the FDA should restrict non-dairy beverage companies from using the term “milk.” A smaller number (23%) believe that the FDA should not restrict non-dairy beverage companies.