Lawmakers Want FDA to Protect Dairy Products from Plant-based Options

Check out my beverage of choice…it is an non-diary oat beverage.
Know what I call it?
Oat milk.
Know what else?
I know it is not REALLY milk.

Most of us understand this...in fact the International Food Information Council Foundation (there is a group for everything) found that 75% of us get it!  The vast majority of us understand that plant-based ‘milk’ products don’t necessary have milk in them” according to a story at centralmaine.com.

But, Maine’s two U.S. senators are part of a group of lawmakers who want the federal government to ‘crack down’ diary terms used on plant-based products. Words like 'milk' and 'cheese' are what we are talking about.

My initial reaction... you have got to be kidding me! We have REALLY big issues in our nation to address.

After further consideration I still feel the same way...but I do get it.

According to centralmaine.com Sen. Susan Collins and Sen. Angus King want the Food and Drug Administration to work with the Congress to prevent what they see as misuse of dairy terms.

They feel by calling an oat based beverage ‘oat milk’ it could be confusing for consumers. “This is both unfair to our hardworking dairy farmers and problematic for consumers, making it harder for Americans to make educated decisions regarding what they feed themselves and their families.” the senators wrote.

I agree our farmers, dairy or otherwise, are hardworking Americans and deserve support…but is this the way to do it?  Could they benefit from something else?

I would add always read the ingredients if you want to know exactly what is in your foods, you might be surprised. If we are concerned about American being able to make educated decisions on our foods there is more to it than if we are confused about the dairy content of almond milk.   :)