Industry Demands Action Against Plant-Based Products Misleading Consumers.
The dairy industry is ramping up its efforts to protect the integrity of traditional product names, specifically urging the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to intervene against the mislabeling of plant-based alternatives. This comes as the American Butter Institute (ABI) formally requested the FDA to take enforcement action against products deceptively using terms like “dairy-free butter.” The core of the complaint emphasizes that such labeling misleads consumers and violates federal standards of identity that strictly define butter as a product made solely from milk or cream, intensifying a key debate within the broader agribusiness sector.
Christopher Galen, Executive Director of the ABI and Senior Vice President for the National Milk Producers Federation, argues forcefully that plant-based manufacturers are attempting to “leverage the premium perception of real dairy butter.” He points out that this strategy emerges as sales of traditional margarine and other vegetable oil spreads are in decline. Galen contends that calling an “ultra-processed seed oil concoction” – like Country Crock’s product, which is 79% plant-based oil spread – “butter” is a “total oxymoron,” undermining established food definitions and consumer trust.
The dairy industry’s appeal to the FDA is rooted in existing federal standards of identity that legally define what constitutes butter. ABI highlights that conventional butter manufacturers are held to these rigorous federal labeling standards, ensuring product authenticity. Allowing “fake butters” to use the term not only contravenes these regulations but also creates significant consumer confusion, eroding confidence in purchasing decisions within the dairy products market. This push underscores the importance of clear and accurate labeling for the international dairy community.
This isn’t a new battlefront. The National Milk Producers Federation raised similar objections in 2019 regarding Country Crock’s use of “plant-based butter” in its marketing. The dairy industry consistently maintains that if a product is not derived from milk, it should not be permitted to use dairy-specific terminology. This ongoing dispute reflects a wider industry-wide push for stricter enforcement of labeling laws for plant-based substitutes across categories like milk, cheese, and other dairy foods, impacting dairy economics.
The outcome of ABI’s formal complaint to the FDA holds significant implications for the competitive dynamics of both traditional dairy and burgeoning non-dairy markets. The dairy industry is hopeful for a favorable response, particularly in an environment where there’s a growing consumer preference for “real foods” and “whole foods” over highly processed alternatives. This legal and marketing skirmish underscores the escalating competition and regulatory challenges facing both established dairy producers and innovative plant-based manufacturers in the rapidly evolving food industry.
Source: AgInfo.net: Butter Mislabeling Spurs Request for FDA Intervention
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