In an effort to stop the practice of mislabeling non-dairy products as actual
foods made from milk, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin introduced legislation
requiring products made from nuts, seeds, plants and algae to no longer be
marketed with terms like milk, yogurt or cheese. She's calling it the 'DAIRY
PRIDE' Act, which stands for: The Defending Against Imitations and Replacements
of Yogurt, milk, and cheese to Promote Regular Intake of Dairy Everyday Act.
"Dairy farmers in Wisconsin work tirelessly every day to ensure that their
milk meets high standards for nutritional value and quality," Baldwin
said. "Imitation products have gotten away with using dairy's good name
for their own benefit, which is against the law and must be enforced.
Mislabeling of plant-based products as 'milk' hurts our dairy farmers.
As part of the measure, the Food and Drug Administration would be required to
report to congress two years after enactment in order to hold the agency
accountable.
The announcement sparked an outpouring of support and praise from state and
national farm groups on Thursday. Bradley Legreid of the Wisconsin Dairy
Products Association says Baldwin's legislation will protect the integrity and
image of wholesome and nutritious dairy products. National Milk Producers
Federation President Jim Mulhern adds that for too long, the FDA has turned a
'blind eye' to the misbranding of imitation dairy products, despite the
decades-old federal law that milk comes from animals, not vegetables or nuts.